Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered an extensive spraying and fogging in the city's 142 barangays to control the dengue outbreak in the city which has so far claimed 10 lives.
The city's Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Rolando Cruz said the misting and spraying were conducted on Monday, Feb. 17, in Barangay Escopa III and other barangays with confirmed dengue cases.
Around 76 barangays are being monitored as dengue cases in these areas have gone above the epidemic threshold.
QCHD personnel sprays at a residential are in Quezon City on Monday morning, Feb. 17. (Quezon City government Facebook page)
Cruz said Belmonte asked the Quezon City Health Department to target the adult mosquitoes and cluster areas in the affected barangays.
"We did not expect an outbreak such as this. Usually, we only record low cases of dengue at this time but because of the intermittent rains, the breeding sites must have increased, especially when the area is dirty or lack sanitation. When the rain comes, these become breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes," he added.
Crus said dengue cases usually decline in the months of December, January, and February.
"Pero lagpas na ito ngayon dun sa epidemic threshold (But the cases have breached the epidemic threshold)," he added.
Based on the latest data, more than 1,700 dengue cases have been reported in the city compared to the more than 600 cases recorded during the same period last year.
"This is more than triple the number compared to last year," Cruz said.
They sprayed at the alleys and streets to prevent the proliferation of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
They also conducted dengue community lectures and clean-up drives.
Residents who are experiencing symptoms of dengue such as fever are encouraged to go to the nearest health center.
Belmonte declared the dengue outbreak on Feb. 15 following the deaths of 10 patients due to the mosquito-borne illness. The fatalities included a 9-month-old baby, a 35-year-old adult, while the eight other victims were 17 years and below.
Read more: https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/15/quezon-city-declares-dengue-outbreak-after-10-deaths-1