Following the observance of International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27, renewed attention has focused on the Philippines’ capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks, particularly as climate-linked hazards and natural disasters continue to heighten epidemic risk.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/27, adopted on December 7, 2020, an observance which designated December 27 to promote “the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics.”
In 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 62,313 dengue cases from January 1 to March 1, representing a 73 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. As of December 6, the DOH also logged 4,843 measles-rubella cases nationwide, a 29 percent rise from 3,748 cases in 2024, noting that 73 percent of reported cases occurred among unvaccinated individuals.
These figures indicate that the Philippines continues to face overlapping infectious disease threats even as it works to strengthen surveillance, laboratory capacity, and response systems.
Recurring disease risks in a multi-hazard environment
Dengue fever remains endemic in the Philippines and typically rises during periods of increased rainfall and warmer temperatures that favor the Aedes mosquito vector. DOH regional bulletins have consistently shown dengue cases increasing during the rainy season, reflecting long-established climate-related transmission patterns.
Other diseases also show seasonal or post-disaster surges. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection associated with floodwater exposure, remains a recurring concern. After heavy rains in July 2025, DOH-linked reports cited 569 leptospirosis cases between July 13 and July 31, highlighting the elevated risk posed by flooding and inadequate sanitation.
Meanwhile, measles-rubella transmission continues to reflect immunity gaps. Past outbreaks, including the 2023–2024 measles outbreak in the Bangsamoro region—which recorded 2,064 confirmed cases and 14 deaths by April 17, 2024—illustrate how low vaccination coverage can sustain transmission and necessitate large-scale immunization campaigns.
Globally, epidemic pressure remains high. The World Health Organization (WHO) multi-country cholera situation report from January 1 to August 31, 2025, posted 462,890 cholera and acute watery diarrhea cases and 5,869 deaths from 32 countries across five WHO regions. While the Western Pacific Region reported no new cholera cases in August 2025, the global situation underscores persistent epidemic risks that strain preparedness systems worldwide.
Legal and system frameworks for preparedness
The Philippines’ primary legal framework for infectious disease reporting and response is Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. The law mandates reporting of designated diseases and authorizes the government to coordinate surveillance, verification, and response actions.
Its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations define operational responsibilities for health facilities and authorities, aiming to ensure timely reporting and public-health action.
However, experts note that legal mandates alone do not guarantee rapid detection or response. Surveillance effectiveness depends on timely reporting from health facilities, prompt investigation of unusual clusters, and laboratory capacity to confirm cases—functions that can be disrupted during disasters or in areas with limited health infrastructure.
Surveillance, early warning, and system limits
To assess preparedness, WHO conducts Joint External Evaluations (JEEs) under the International Health Regulations (2005). JEEs provide structured assessments of a country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats.
The most recent JEE mission for the Philippines was conducted in late November 2024, with the report published in December 2025. It serves as a benchmark for national preparedness, identifying strengths and gaps using internationally comparable criteria.
WHO’s States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting (SPAR) system further allows countries to track progress in detection and response capacities. While these tools promote accountability, their impact depends on whether findings are translated into funding, workforce development, and operational improvements at national and local levels.
Common bottlenecks persist, including delayed reporting from remote facilities, slow laboratory turnaround times, and shortages of trained epidemiology staff at municipal and barangay levels.
Role of local governments
Outbreak detection and response in the Philippines rely heavily on local government units (LGUs), as many health functions are devolved under the Local Government Code and implemented in coordination with DOH.
In response to rising measles-rubella cases in 2025, the DOH announced plans to roll out the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) in phases beginning in 2026. According to DOH statements reported by GMA Integrated News, the campaign aims to address immunity gaps reflected in the year’s case increase.
Vaccination drives require strong LGU coordination for logistics, community engagement, and service delivery. However, preparedness capacity varies widely. Urban centers often have better surveillance staffing and laboratory access, while rural and geographically isolated areas may struggle with early detection and surge response.
Structural gaps and social determinants
Peer-reviewed research continues to highlight structural vulnerabilities. A 2025 study on leptospirosis in the Philippines published in Pathogens described the disease as a “pressing yet under-recognized public health burden,” disproportionately affecting communities with poor sanitation and flood control.
The study reported a 43.4 percent increase in leptospirosis cases from January to July 2025 compared with the same period in 2024 and called for preventive strategies that integrate health, environmental, and social policy measures beyond hospital-based response.
These findings echo broader assessments showing that outbreak risks are amplified by inadequate water and sanitation systems, informal settlements, and disaster-related disruptions.
Climate, disasters, and epidemic risk
Public-health experts increasingly emphasize that epidemic preparedness is inseparable from climate resilience. The Philippines climate variability results to changes in vector-borne disease patterns, including dengue, as altered rainfall and temperature affect mosquito habitats.
Natural disasters further increase risk by disrupting health services, displacing populations, and concentrating people in evacuation centers where respiratory and waterborne infections can spread more easily. The DOH has acknowledged monitoring measles transmission risks in evacuation settings following typhoons in 2025.
Funding, workforce, and surge capacity
Sustained financing remains a central challenge. Surveillance systems, laboratories, and emergency operations require continuous funding—not only during outbreaks.
Workforce shortages, including limited numbers of trained epidemiologists and laboratory technicians, undermine early detection and investigation, particularly outside major urban centers. Laboratory capacity also varies, with rural areas often dependent on delayed specimen transport.
Surge capacity remains a recurring concern. Preparedness requires the ability to rapidly expand clinical services, laboratory testing, and public-health outreach, even as routine services and disaster responses strain existing resources.
Preparedness as measurable performance
The annual International Day of Epidemic Preparedness draws attention to measurable outcomes such as quick detections of outbreaks, fast confirmation of cases from laboratories, effective LGUs response, and efficient systems adaptation to climate and disaster pressures.
The 2025 disease figures—62,313 dengue cases, 4,843 measles-rubella cases with most among the unvaccinated, and recurrent leptospirosis spikes—provide reference points against which preparedness improvements can be assessed.
International benchmarks such as WHO’s JEE and SPAR frameworks, alongside global outbreak monitoring, offer ongoing measures of readiness. Translating these assessments into resilient, equitable public-health action remains the central challenge for the Philippines and other outbreak-prone countries.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
