Dengue outbreak declared in Bohol as cases surge
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Bohol has declared a province-wide dengue outbreak after recording 1,883 cases and 21 deaths from the disease from Jan. 4 to Aug. 22.
Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued the declaration on Thursday after health authorities recorded 1,883 dengue cases and 21 deaths from Jan. 4 to Aug. 22, 2026.
The province had exceeded the dengue epidemic threshold for three consecutive weeks, with a case fatality rate of 1.12 percent, according to the executive order declaring the outbreak.
A significant number of cases were reported in Talibon, Tagbilaran City, Ubay, Getafe and Tubigon.
The Provincial Local Health Board, with the support of the Department of Health’s Central Visayas Center for Health Development and the Provincial Health Office, recommended the declaration based on the latest epidemiological data and the increasing pressure on local health facilities.
Control
“There is an urgent need to escalate and intensify dengue outbreak management measures to control the transmission of dengue in the community and prevent the occurrence of deaths due to the disease,” Aumentado said in the executive order.
The declaration calls for the immediate intensification of dengue prevention and control measures across the province.
These include the strict implementation of the enhanced 4S Strategy, the reactivation of local dengue task forces and the implementation of Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue.
Local governments were also directed to mobilize households, schools and communities in “Search and Destroy” activities to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly through the 4 o’clock habit.
Health authorities were instructed to intensify vector-control measures for confirmed dengue cases, while city and municipal health offices and hospitals were ordered to establish Dengue Fast Lanes to speed up consultation and treatment.
Local governments must also ensure proper patient referrals, allocate funds for essential dengue-control supplies and services and coordinate with government agencies and other stakeholders.
The Bohol Provincial Anti-Dengue Task Force will likewise be reconstituted and strengthened to lead the province-wide response.
Aumentado said the intensified measures were intended to curb dengue transmission and prevent further deaths from the disease. /cb
