Beyond fogging: Fight dengue year-round
The fight against dengue requires a combination of proven interventions rather than reliance on a single solution.
DELAY costs lives Anti-dengue warrior Dr. Eric Tayag called on the government to make fiscal room for the battle against the disease. ‘If the vaccine is not included in the 2027 budget, even if the Food and Drug Administraion approves it, implementation could be delayed by one to two years and that delay will be costly in terms of the country’s dengue burden.’
Photograph courtesy of Health Alliance PH
As dengue continues to threaten communities across the Philippines, former Department of Health (DoH) Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag is urging the country to embrace science-driven solutions while strengthening public awareness and early intervention.
Speaking on DAILY TRIBUNE’s Straight Talk, Dr. Tayag, now a leading advocate of the End Dengue Coalition, said the fight against dengue requires a combination of proven interventions rather than reliance on a single solution.
“Not one intervention is capable of bringing down dengue cases. Everything complements each other in our fight against dengue,” he said.
Fresh from attending the Asian Dengue Summit in Singapore, where more than 600 researchers, clinicians, and public health experts gathered, Tayag shared the latest advances in dengue prevention, including vaccines and the innovative use of Wolbachia bacteria.
According to Dr. Tayag, Singapore has significantly reduced mosquito populations by releasing male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium that renders them sterile.
“The Philippines will venture into introducing the same Wolbachia intervention in several months from now. Hopefully, we achieve the same results that Singapore has seen in reducing mosquito populations,” he said.
DENGUE defenders squad At the 9th Asia Dengue Summit, a regional medical conference held in Singapore from 15 to 17 June, were (from left) Dr. Eric Tayag, Dr. Lulu Bravo, Dr. Rose Capeding and Dr. Erica Tania Davillo Domingo. The disease is a major recurring public health issue in the Philippines.
Photograph courtesy of Rotary Club of Manila
Vaccine approval remains key
Dr. Tayag also renewed his call for the approval of the Takeda dengue vaccine, which has already been introduced in more than 40 countries and pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
While acknowledging public concerns stemming from the Dengvaxia controversy, he expressed confidence that Philippine regulators would rely on scientific evidence.
“I’m confident that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will base its decision on science and not on political pressure or the history of Dengvaxia,” he said.
