Dengue cases in Zamboanga City continue to rise, reaching 1,609 as of August 8, 2026. The city government has declared a dengue epidemic.

According to the local government, the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease remains at 12, while cases have remained at the epidemic threshold for seven consecutive weeks, from morbidity week 25 through morbidity week 31.

During a meeting of the Local Health Board, the City Health Office (CHO) reported that the latest number of dengue cases is 55 percent higher compared to the 1,036 cases logged in the same period in 2025.

A total of 50 out of the city’s 98 barangays reported recent dengue case clustering, with Sta. Maria recording the highest number of cases at 101, followed by Calarian with 95, Talon-Talon with 77, Ayala with 72, Tumaga with 64, Tetuan with 60, Mercedes with 57, Tugbungan with 47, Putik with 46, and Pasonanca with 45.

CHO reported that 81 percent of dengue cases involve individuals below 21 years old, with children one to 10 years old accounting for 51 percent, or 822 cases, and cases nearly evenly divided between females at 51 percent and males at 49 percent.

Meanwhile, local officials urged all 98 barangays to actively participate in the city’s dengue prevention campaign by implementing preventive measures within their respective communities.

The local government said that ‘Guerra contra Dengue,’ a seven-day intensified search-and-destroy operation in barangays, schools, and other establishments across the city, will be launched this week to eliminate mosquito larvae that transmit dengue and ultimately minimize, if not eradicate, dengue infections.

The program launch will include the distribution of sacks of salt to barangays to support their search and destroy operations against dengue mosquito breeding sites.

Health authorities also urged residents experiencing suspected dengue symptoms to seek medical attention promptly, particularly when fever persists for more than two days or skin rashes develop, to help prevent severe complications.

Following the declaration of a dengue epidemic in Zamboanga City on August 4, CHO has intensified preventive measures including the 5S campaign, fogging and misting operations, and mosquito vector surveillance, among others.