Zamboanga wages ‘chemical warfare’ against dengue mosquitoes

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The city government has launched chemical warfare against dengue-carrying mosquitoes following a sharp increase in the number of people infected with the potentially fatal virus.

Since January, a dozen victims have died from complications arising from dengue, according to city health officer Rodelin Agbulos. The latest victim, he said, died on May 20.

“As of date, we already have recorded 864 dengue cases in the city from January. But this is not yet the complete situation because other hospitals have not submitted their reports yet,” said Dr. Dulce Dagalea, medical officer IV of the City Health Office.

So far in  May alone, the number of dengue cases was already at 130 compared to 55 during the same month last year.

“It means that there was a 136-percent increase,” Dagalea said.

The city government has declared an outbreak following the rise in the number of dengue cases here.

“We have reached the epidemic threshold of dengue, meaning to say  we have more cases now than before. The epidemic threshold is the number of cases computed during the past five years,” Agbulos explained, without providing figures.

Mayor Celso Lobregat immediately ordered the release of P559,000 for the purchase of anti-larvicidal chemicals and fumigants or reagents used for anti-mosquito fogging machines under the revitalized anti-dengue campaign.

At least five barangays were on the priority list of the city government’s chemical war on dengue.

These are Tumaga, which has 68 cases; Tugbungan, with 61 patients; Guiwan with 57  cases; San Roque,  48 cases; and Sta. Maria, which has 46 cases.

“Since dengue is a (year-round) disease, we encourage the communities to come up with projects and intensify campaigns to fight the alarming cases,” Dagalea said.

She said residents should be aware of the breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes and clean them up.

“Everyone in the community should be responsible in cleaning his or her surroundings so that we may get rid of the disease and prevent deaths from occurring,” Dagalea added.