At least two local governments in Cebu are alarmed by the dengue cases in their jurisdiction.
In Cebu City, officials are alarmed by the number of residents who have died from the disease.
Based on data released by the city’s health department, 11 of the 1,482 residents who contracted the virus from January to August 1, 2026 died.
In the same period in 2025, only five of the 1,190 people who suffered from dengue passed away.
The barangays in Cebu City with the most cases from January to August 1, 2026 are the following:
- Guadalupe - 93 cases
- Basak San Nicolas - 82 cases
- Lahug - 73 cases
- Tisa - 56 cases
- Mambaling - 55 cases
Most of those who died are children one to 10 years old.
The city attributes the high mortality rate to the delay in seeking medical help.
Dr. Daisy Villa, head of the city’s health department, clarified that despite the alarming numbers, there is no dengue outbreak in the city just yet.
The city will not recommend misting and fogging during the rainy season because rainwater would simply flush the chemicals away.
Instead, the city recommends the so-called “curtain impregnation” or putting chemicals on curtains to drive mosquitoes away.
Meanwhile, In neighboring Lapu-Lapu City, two have died from dengue, so far, in 2026. The first death was recorded in January in Barangay Basak and the second death was recorded in August in Barangay Babag.
The number of cases went up to 151 cases in July 2026 from the 48 cases in June.
In fact, the 151 cases in 2026 is practically triple the number of the 55 cases in July 2025.
The city has a total of 442 cases from January to July 2026, just one case shy of the 443 cases in the same period in 2025.
In June, the city launched an anti-dengue drive.
“Ang protocol nato, kabalo na tanan nato nga barangay, nga mag-clean-up drive. After clean-up drive sa area kung asa tong positibo nato sa dengue kay mag-misting dayon ta on the first day, the third day, and sa seventh day,” said Dr. Nelner Omus, City Health Officer, Lapu-Lapu City.
“As predicted, and as seen through the trend, every three years, mo-spike siya, which is nakita nato sa atong data karon dinhi sa Lapu-Lapu,” she added.
(With reports from Lou-Anne Mae Rondina)
