Health Risks Brief: 2nd Quarter 2026
A look into local health-related laws, policies, regulations, and program for the second quarter of 2026, discussing the new Department of Health Secretary, Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, and public health risks brought by the El Niño phenomenon.
Executive Summary
Health-Related Laws, Policies, and Regulations
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appoints Dr. Jose S. Pujalte Jr. as the Philippines’ new Department of Health (DOH) Secretary effective Monday, July 13, following the resignation of Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa due to health reasons. Dr. Pujalte is an orthopedic surgeon and career public health administrator who served as the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) chief before his Cabinet appointment.
Local Diseases
- The second quarter of 2026 saw a shift in public health risks as the country transitioned from extreme summer heat to the onset of the rainy season. The DOH reported 2,177 leptospirosis cases nationwide from 4 January to 6 June 2026, representing a 6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
- The Department of Health (DOH) launched the second phase of its nationwide “Ligtas Tigdas” Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) in June 2026, to strengthen population immunity against measles and rubella following a rise in vaccine-preventable viral infections during the first quarter of the year.
International Diseases
- On May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) after a confirmed outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The current outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo species of the virus, with approximately a mortality rate of 25 to 50 percent. As of July 30, 2026, 3,605 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, including 1,587 deaths. At present, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising against travelling to DRC unless for humanitarian aid or emergency response.
Weather- and Hazard- Related Health Risks
- The prevailing El Niño phenomenon in the tropical Pacific may bring increased risks of seasonal diseases such as food and waterborne illnesses, influenza, leptospirosis, dengue, and chikungunya, among others. Experts note that the El Niño may further strengthen near year-end, and persist until early 2027. The phenomenon is seen to cause dry spells, drought, and a 60 percent reduction in rainfall over a longer period. The effects of such may be more pronounced once the rainy season in the Philippines ends, which typically spans between June and November.
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