Aumentado declares outbreak,

directs LGU dengue response

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—With a 1,883 recorded dengue cases and 21 fatalities since January, the cases overshooting past the epidemic threshold for the past three consecutive weeks, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado declares a dengue outbreak and orders local government units (LGU) to mobilize into a united action against disease through vector control strategies.

Through Executive Order No 40, series of 2026, Aumentado directed all local government units for local legislation on the implementation of enhanced 4S strategy, reactivation of the local dengue task force and Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) as well as collaborate with stakeholders for prompt anti-dengue response.

In a separate Executive Order No 41, the governor also reactivated the Provincial Anti Dengue Task Force headed by the Provincial Health Officer and composed of all government hospital directors, health organizations leaders as well as government agencies with mandates on health, disaster and on local government administration.

The task Force spearheads the execution of 4 o’clock habit, ABKD, leads information campaigns, monitors and assists local dengue task forces in dengue elimination in communities.

In EO No, 40, Aumentado directed LGUs to mobilize households, schools, communities to conduct Search and Destroy activities for mosquito breeding sites through the 4 o’clock habit.

With the building cases needing immediate attention, the order also includes LGUS keeping health facilities to establish Dengue Fast Lanes, ensure proper patient referral based on DOH guidelines, especially the implementation of 1-3-7 intensified vector control strategies in all confirmed dengue cases.

The 1-3-7 vector control strategy is a rapid-response protocol used by all health authorities under the Department of Health Memorandum No. 2025-0420 to contain mosquito-borne disease outbreaks by tracking timelines for investigation and containment.

It means by day 1 or upon case reporting, an initial investigation, and immediate source reduction by identifying and removing stagnant water and breeding sites around the patient's residence is done.

By day 3, authorities have to deploy larviciding measures like safe chemicals or biological controls to kill mosquito larvae in water containers that cannot be discarded.

On day 7, authorities have to execute fogging operations in the identified hotspot area to eliminate adult vector mosquitoes and prevent further transmission.

For LGUs, the Executive Order frees emergency funds for the purchase of essential supplies and services needed for effective dengue control.

Owing to the current dengue situation, there is an urgent need to escalate and intensify dengue outbreak management measures to control dengue transmission and prevent more deaths, Aumentado said. (PIAbohol)

MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES. Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado issues Executive Orders No 41 and 41, declaring a dengue outbreak in Bohol and forming the Provincial Task Force to lead the campaign to the grassroots, as Bohol records 21 deaths associated with dengue as of August 22. (PIAbohol/PIMO)