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MANILA, Philippines 鈥斅�Health experts from across Asia said the global goal of achieving zero dengue-related deaths by 2030 is attainable鈥攂ut only through multi-sectoral collaboration.

The Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA), a scientific working group advocating for dengue vaccination in the region, urged the implementation of stronger policies to enhance resilience against dengue amid the rising number of cases and deaths worldwide.

鈥淲ith dengue cases persistently growing in many parts of the world, including the Philippines, this summit delivers a unifying message: Dengue is preventable. And with scientific innovation, the right strategies, and strong community partnerships, [reaching for] zero dengue deaths is achievable,鈥� infectious disease expert Dr. Ma. Rosario Capeding said during the opening of the four-day 8th Asia Dengue Summit in Quezon City.

鈥淲e want to protect lives, eliminate preventable deaths, and put a stop to this global threat,鈥� added Capeding, the organizing chair of the summit.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global dengue cases doubled in just a year, reaching over 14 million in 2024, with Asia bearing about 70 percent of the burden. Dengue-related deaths also increased, rising from 7,300 to 10,000.

The economic toll of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases is estimated at $3.1 billion (P176.5 billion) annually.

Summit organizing committee co-chair Dr. Fatima Gimenez, who also writes a column for the Inquirer, emphasized that the government cannot tackle the country鈥檚 dengue crisis alone.

鈥淓very sector has a part to play. The health workers, advocates, the public and media 鈥� we are all in this together. We can turn the tide on dengue,鈥� she added.

The summit aligns with the WHO鈥檚 Global Strategy for Dengue Prevention and Control 2021鈥�2030, which aims to achieve zero preventable dengue deaths by 2030.

Set to conclude on June 18, the Asia Dengue Summit serves as a platform for dialogue among policymakers and advocates, and a springboard for sustained cross-sector partnerships and action. In line with this, ADVA鈥攖hrough the Asia Dengue Policy Working Group鈥攔ecently released a white paper titled 鈥淯nlocking Progress: Dengue Policies and Opportunities in Asia.鈥�

It calls for stronger regional coordination and greater national accountability to help Asia build more resilient and equitable systems for managing dengue and protecting vulnerable populations.

For the Philippines, the recommendations include enhancing dengue prevention efforts through vaccination and improving the delivery of quality care.

It also emphasized the need for targeted communication and global collaboration to combat misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Expanding access to treatment and ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines are crucial to saving lives, particularly in underserved communities, the paper added.

ADVA international adviser and Philippine Foundation for Vaccination Executive Director Lulu Bravo stressed that vaccination is the most cost-effective preventive measure for dengue and other diseases.

鈥淭he Philippines has had dengue for more than 70 years鈥� It is so ironic that in Asia, where dengue has started long before, we are still lagging behind in terms of vaccination,鈥� she said.

It would be the second dengue vaccine approved in the Philippines, following Sanofi Pasteur鈥檚 Dengvaxia in 2015鈥攁 vaccine that sparked controversy after reports of children鈥檚 deaths post-inoculation.

Experts acknowledged that vaccine hesitancy among some Filipino parents, stemming from the Dengvaxia scare, may affect the public鈥檚 willingness to get vaccinated.

Professor Datuk Zulkifli Ismail, chair of the ADVA steering committee, emphasized the need for doctors and other healthcare professionals to be well-informed about the new-generation vaccines and to communicate transparently with the public about their benefits and risks.

鈥淲e have years of data about this second-generation vaccine (Qdenga) and the red flags have not come up. So that鈥檚 why we believe that this is a much safer vaccine,鈥� he said.

According to Indonesian Tikki Pangetsu, international advisor of ADVA, the success of a new mass dengue vaccination will depend on the level of trust of the Filipino people in their government.

鈥淲hen the people trust the government, that is a primary ingredient in them agreeing to be vaccinated,鈥� he said./mcm