ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government of Zamboanga has declared a dengue outbreak in the city after the number of dengue cases exceeded the epidemic threshold for four consecutive weeks.

Records from the City Health Office show 893 dengue cases with 11 deaths from January 1 to April 2 this year.
Zamboanga mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar ordered the activation of the dengue preparedness plan and task force based on the city’s 2019 dengue response.
City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Dr. Ivy Iturralde reported that there were 85 dengue cases for morbidity week 13, a figure 963% higher compared to the same period in 2021, when a dengue outbreak was also declared.

Health records also show a 99.64% dengue incidence rate per 100,000 residents.
Iturralde confirmed the existence of a dengue epidemic based on the analysis of threshold levels and laboratory results. Iturralde said the city already exceeded epidemic thresholds for four consecutive morbidity weeks.
The declaration of outbreak was formalized through a resolution passed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday, April 8.
The resolution will be forwarded to the Zamboanga City Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Office of the City Mayor for appropriate action.