Baguio City has recorded 543 dengue cases since January 2026, with local health officials expecting the number to peak toward the last week of August before cases begin to decline around mid-October.
The City Health Services Office (CHSO) provided the update during the Baguio City Council’s regular session on August 17, 2026. Representatives from the CHSO, Baguio General Hospital (BGH), and the Department of Health (DOH) were called to the session to discuss the city’s dengue situation and COVID-19 cases simultaneously.
CHSO Head Celia Brillantes and City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Head Donabel Panes said the city’s monitoring and data gathering in previous years have helped them identify the usual pattern of dengue cases, allowing them to anticipate the seasonal increase.
From 2025 to 2026, the CHSO recorded a total of 1,657 dengue cases, including seven deaths. The cases included 833 males and 823 females, with 553 admitted patients. At the time of the discussion, nine patients were admitted and none had severe dengue.
The CHSO clarified that the number of patients served by Baguio’s health facilities does not necessarily represent the number of dengue cases among Baguio residents. Of the more than 1,000 cases recorded in the two-year period, about 540 were Baguio residents, while the rest came from neighboring municipalities that also rely on the city’s health facilities.
The CHSO also reported that dengue testing kits remain available at health centers, stressing that early detection remains important in preventing deaths, particularly because most dengue cases can be managed when patients seek medical attention early.
Health officials explained that dengue cases tend to rise every three years. Weather conditions affect the mosquito population, with relative humidity, temperature, and rainfall influencing mosquito breeding. Intermittent rain can leave water in containers and other areas where mosquitoes breed, while continuous heavy rain may wash away these breeding sites.
As another possible measure against dengue, the city is looking into the use of Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria that can be introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the main mosquitoes that transmit dengue. When mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia mate, the bacteria can reduce the ability of the mosquitoes to transmit dengue to people.
According to the CHSO, Baguio is being considered by project proponents as a possible model for Wolbachia implementation that could eventually be expanded to other parts of the country. The city is still working on the necessary logistics and permits, and implementation will depend on approval from the DOH.
A dengue vaccine is also not yet available for use in the country as it is still awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Health officials clarified that the vaccine under consideration is different from Dengvaxia.
For now, the CHSO urges residents to continue following the DOH’s dengue prevention measures including the 4S strategy of searching for and destroying mosquito breeding places, securing self-protection, seeking early consultation, and supporting fogging or spraying in hotspot areas when warranted.
The city is also still procuring dengue medicines for 2026. Medicines remain available, but health officials said they are hoping for faster procurement to ensure sufficient supplies.
Meanwhile, DOH data showed 4,436 dengue cases across the Cordillera Administrative Region from January to August 8, 2026. Cases increased by 9% in Abra, 23% in Benguet, 44% in Ifugao, and 34% in Kalinga, while other areas including Baguio recorded decreases. **Jordan G. Habbiling
