Manila, Philippines • June 16, 2025 — At the heart of this year’s Asia Dengue Summit—with its clarion call, “Towards Zero Dengue Deaths: Science, Strategy, and Solidarity”—was a voice that brought together personal conviction, research rigor, and systems thinking: Dr. Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales, Founder and Managing Director of 101 Health Research.
In her plenary session titled “Dengue in the Midst of Climate Change: The Philippine Experience,” Dr. Cloma-Rosales stood shoulder to shoulder with other public health leaders and changemakers from across Asia. But her lens was intimate and urgent: a testimony drawn from years of living and working on the frontlines of dengue—from doctor and policymaker to patient and family caregiver.
“When I was a med student, I used to wonder—will I ever be invited to speak at a conference like this? Especially an international one?” she shared. “So when I saw the publicity material and then got invited, it was really full circle for me.”
The Summit and the Session
The 8th Asia Dengue Summit was held on June 16–17, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. Co-convened by ADVA, GDAC, and the Philippine Medical Association, the summit featured a mix of global experts on epidemiology, vector control, immunology, and public policy.
Dr. Cloma-Rosales presented as part of the high-profile plenary “The Evolving Epidemiology of Dengue: Country Experiences – Gains, Challenges, and Ways Forward”, alongside Singapore’s Ng Lee Ching.
Her presentation drew from:
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- The 2023 national policy research commissioned by the Department of Health and WHO
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- A 2025 scoping review led by her team at 101 Health Research on dengue and climate change evidence
Key Insights: Climate Signals, Policy Blindspots
In her talk, Dr. Cloma-Rosales emphasized that climate change is not a future threat—it’s a present amplifier of dengue risk.
Temperature: The Strongest Predictor
“We found that mosquito growth, virus replication, and outbreak risk all rise with temperatures between 26 to 32 degrees,” she explained. “And the peak? Around 28 to 29°C. That’s where dengue thrives.”
In Davao, a 1°C increase corresponded to 8.5% more dengue cases. This data, she noted, should transform how local governments and national agencies prioritize high-risk zones.
Rainfall: A Local Puzzle
“Not all rain is equal. In Cavite, a 50 mm increase in rainfall increased dengue cases by 11%. But in Iligan, no strong association. That tells us: we cannot copy-paste vector strategies from one LGU to another.”
AI and Predictive Surveillance
“With the data we already have, our models can predict dengue outbreaks with 85–93% accuracy,” she said. “We can give LGUs two to four weeks’ lead time—enough to act, not just react.”
She advocated for integrating AI-based early warning systems into national and local surveillance programs, something her firm has piloted with academic and government partners.
Policy and Practice: What Needs to Change
One of the most compelling segments of her session came when she asked: “Are we ready to change the system?”
“Because science tells us what’s coming. Strategy tells us what to do. But solidarity is what ensures we move forward together.”
She called for:
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- Climate-informed outbreak mapping
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- Conditional grants to support LGU-led vector innovations
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- Expanded PhilHealth coverage for outpatient diagnostics
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- Support for community education and AI capacity-building
“The data are not what’s missing. It’s how we use them—or don’t.”
Behind the Scenes: A Dream, A Team, A Milestone
This talk was a labor of love—not just for Dr. Cloma-Rosales, but for the entire 101 Health Research team.
She shared on social media:
“Team 101 worked really hard on this while allowing me and Aian to enjoy our anniversary vacation leave. I showed the previous report and directed the scoping review while the research team, marketing team, stats and interns all worked super hard on this.”
“I really thought [our 2023 dengue policy research] was ‘forgotten.’ I think the universe wanted to disseminate it more.”
What emerged from this collaborative effort wasn’t just a presentation—it was, in her words, one of her “favorite presentations” and a testament to what it means to do public health with heart.
From the Philippines to the Region
The Philippine story of dengue is one of paradox: rising cases, world-class researchers, uneven implementation. But with leaders like Dr. Cloma-Rosales, the future holds promise.
Her presentation ended not with a chart—but with a call:
“The path to zero dengue deaths is not paved with more guidelines. It’s paved with action, accountability, and trust. In science. In our people. In each other.”
