ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The city government has declared a dengue outbreak following a sharp increase in the number of people afflicted by the mosquito-borne disease during the last three months.

Based on records from the city health office, 406 dengue cases had been monitored from January up to March 11. Two deaths had been recorded so far.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said before a local health summit here on Tuesday that the declaration was made on recommendation of city health officer Dr. Rodelin Agbulos.

"We are declaring dengue fever outbreak in Zamboanga City and we have directed the City Health Office (CHO) to source out contingency budget for fumigation, which is about P300,000," Lobregat said.

He called on village officials and residents cooperate to fight the menace.

"Barangay officials and the committee on health have to be very active because this campaign cannot be done by the City Health office alone or even efforts from City Hall or city government officials, we need all the support from everyone," Lobregat said.
He said among the immediate measures taken was a citywide cleanup drive.

Dengue-carrying mosquitoes lay their larva in clean stagnant waters.

Agbulos said the target of the cleanup drive are villages, where incidents of dengue was exceptionally high, namely, Canelar, Sta. Maria, Tumaga, Talon-talon, Santa Catalina and Tetuan.

Agbulos confirmed the sharp increase in the number of dengue cases reported to the CHO during the past weeks.

He said in 2007, there were only 90 cases monitored from January to March 5 compared to the same period this year, which has 386 cases already.

"It's alarming (but) we are trying to do everything to control (the spread of the disease)," he said.

The declaration of an outbreak was the second for the city since 2005, when dengue cases shot up to 610 over a six-month period.