Critical reflections on post-pandemic dengue surveillance in Quezon city, Philippines

This correspondence critically reflects on the recent article by Medina et al. (2025), "Pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic identification of dengue hotspots and exploration of determinants in Quezon City." While acknowledging the study's timely contribution to understanding dengue dynamics in an urban context, the commentary identifies several key limitations. These include the absence of a clear theoretical framework, insufficient adjustment for confounding variables, reliance on a single data type without triangulation, weak translation of findings into actionable policy, and notable omissions in the literature review. Addressing these gaps in future research-through stronger theoretical grounding, rigorous methodological control, integration of multiple data sources, and closer alignment with policy and recent evidence-will enhance the scientific depth and practical relevance of dengue epidemiology.