With the onset of the rainy season, the Davao City Health Office (CHO), encourages Dabawenyos to continue their proactive efforts in keeping families and communities healthy.
This, amid reports showing that there is a 50-percent decrease in cases of Waterborne diseases, Influenza-like illnesses, Leptospirosis, and Dengue (WILD) to 2,451 from January to July 2026 from 4,942 in the same period last year.
Farah May C. Clamor, Section Head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of CHO, emphasized that while the rainy season brings seasonal illnesses, Dabawenyos’ preventive practices have helped keep them manageable and lower compared to last year.
“Our current findings are reassuring but we should not become complacent. The absences of thresholds breach does not mean that prevention should stop. We continue to monitor the situation and we encourage everyone to continue practicing preventive measures,” she told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on August 5, 2026.
Clamor stressed that WILD illnesses are closely monitored during the rainy season because the changing environmental conditions can raise the health risks.
“During rainy season, certain environmental conditions can increase the risk of some diseases. For example, heavy rains and flooding can affect water sources, sanitation and food safety. Flood water can also increase people’s exposure to contaminated water, which is one concern for leptospirosis and when rainwater accumulates in containers and other areas, this can become breeding sites for mosquitos which transmit dengue,” she said.
She clarified that the sudden spike in colds and fever during wet weather does not directly cause Influenza. Instead, Influenza is a viral infection spread through respiratory exposure, and crowded indoor settings during rainy days can make this transmission easier.
“For ILI however, we should make an important clarification. Dili ang ulan mismo ang direct causes sa Influenza. Influenzas is caused by Influenza viruses and spreads through respiratory exposure. During rainy periods man gud, people may spend more time indoor or in crowded areas, which can facilitate respiratory transmission but rain itself does not cause influenza (For ILI however, we should make an important clarification. The rain itself is not the direct cause of Influenza. Influenza is caused by influenza viruses and spreads through respiratory exposure. During rainy periods, people may spend more time indoors or in crowded areas which can facilitate respiratory transmission but rain itself does not cause influenza),” she added.
She also advised Dabawenyos to practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette, regular handwashing and meticulously verify that all water used for drinking and cooking comes from clean and safe sources. While leptospirosis can be prevented by avoid wading in floodwaters or by taking appropriate precautions when exposure is absolutely unavoidable.
For dengue, the strategy relies on neighborhoods working together to regularly hunt down and eliminate mosquito breeding sites in their own backyards.
“Prevention is a shared responsibility. Kung mag tinabangay ta, families, schools, workplaces, communities and our health workers mas ma pugngan nato ang mga transmission sa mga sakit and mas ma protektahan nato ang atoang pamilya. Again, dili ta mag panic pero dili pod ta mag kumpyansa, mag amping ta, mag practice ta sa prevention ug magpa konsulta dayon. Stay informed, stay vigilant and let’s do our part to keep our community healthy (Prevention is a shared responsibility. If we work together, families, schools, workplaces, communities and our health workers, we can prevent the transmission of diseases and we can protect our family better. Again, let’s not panic but let’s not be confident either, let’s be careful, practice prevention and consult immediately. Stay informed, stay vigilant and let’s do our part to keep our community healthy),” she said.
Dabawenyos who experience any symptoms related to these illnesses and are encouraged to visit the Davao City Health Office, district health centers, or barangay health centers. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal