Trinity Audio

Read Time:1 Minute, 8 Second

Zamboanga City, Philippines

Health officials of Zamboanga City have stepped up the drive against dengue as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declares the start of rainy season this May.

In a statement, the City Health Office (CHO) reported a total of 2,026 dengue cases from January 1 to May 14, higher by 1,793% compared to the same period in 2021.

Nineteen people have already died from dengue, the CHO said.

Apart of dengue surveillance and intensified information campaign, the health office has also conducted fogging operations in affected barangays.

The CHO has conducted fogging operations in Barnagays Boalan, Guiwan, Sangali, and Zone III this week.

With the onset of rainy season, the CHO urged the barangay officials particularly those with dengue cases to conduct their own fogging, and search-and-destroy operations.

Get The News Right In Your Inbox …

In an advisory, the state weather bureau said: “The presence of frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country.”

PAGASA observed a “southwesterly wind flow was also observed during the past few days, which satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.” (John Mahusay)