 "Michael Labag shows the nine pesos reward he got from the 45 mosquito larvas he captured in Mandaluyong city, Philippines as the village started offering bounty for captured mosquitos, dead or alive, as part of an anti-dengue campaign on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. AP")
A village in one of the Philippines’ most crowded cities is giving its citizens a token reward for any mosquitoes they catch, whether they are dead or alive.
Despite the possibility of mockery, local officials justified the bounty as crucial to its well-being.
The effort comes amid a spike in dengue cases in the Asian nation.
Let’s take a closer look.
Bounty for mosquitoes
The initiative has been introduced by the urban village of Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City of central Manila.
More than 100,000 of its residents live in crowded neighbourhoods and residential condominium towers.
Village chief Carlito Cernal announced the bounty of one peso (less than two US cents) for every five mosquitoes or mosquito larvae. Live mosquitoes will be exterminated using ultraviolet light.
As the campaign began, about 21 mosquito hunters with a total of 700 mosquitoes and larvae showed up at the village office, according to BBC.
Miguel Labag, a 64-year-old scavenger, handed a jug with 45 dark mosquito larvae squirming in some water and received a reward of nine pesos (15 cents).
“This is a big help,” Labag said, smiling. “I can buy coffee.”
The campaign will run for at least a month
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Rising dengue cases
The unusual approach, however, is a response to the increasing concern over a rise in dengue infections in the Philippines.
Quezon, Addition Hills’ nearby city, declared an outbreak of the mosquito-borne illness on Saturday after deaths this year reached 10 people, mostly children, out of 1,769 residents infected.
Eight more areas reported an upsurge in cases of the potentially deadly viral infection.
At least 28,234 dengue cases have been recorded in the Philippines this year up to February 1. This is a 40 per cent spike compared to the same period last year, according to health department statistics.
Village leader Cernal, speaking about the latest campaign, told The Associated Press, “There was an alarm. I found a way.”
Besides this, Addition Hills has also done clean-ups, canal de-clogging and a hygiene campaign to combat dengue.
Critics cautioned that if desperate people begin breeding mosquitoes for the reward, the technique would backfire.
According to Cernal, that is unlikely because the campaign will end as soon as the increase in cases decreases.
Officials in another village in Quezon City were considering releasing swarms of frogs to eat mosquitoes.
The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) told the BBC that it “appreciates the good intentions of local government executives to fight dengue.”
The authorities has advised the people to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, use insect repellent, keep their surroundings clean and eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds like tyres.
Cleaning up mosquito breeding grounds is essential, and anyone who may be infected should get medical help right away, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
Despite an increase in dengue infections, the Philippines has managed to maintain low mortality rates, he said.
Dengue cases surged unexpectedly ahead of the rainy season, which starts in June, likely because of intermittent downpours that have left stagnant pools of water where dengue-causing mosquitoes can breed, Health Undersecretary Alberto Domingo said.
He added that climate change was likely contributing to off-season downpours.
In addition to dengue, the DOH reported that the rains have contributed to an increase in cases of influenza and leptospirosis infections, which are caused by rats and occur when people wade in floodwaters.
Also read: Over 12 million cases, 8,000 deaths in 2024: Is dengue the new global pandemic?
More about dengu****e
Dengue is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that is prevalent in tropical nations. Outbreaks of the virus frequently happen in urban areas with inadequate sanitation, which makes it easier for mosquitoes to spread the virus.
It can cause joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rashes, and in severe cases can cause breathing problems, haemorrhaging and organ failure.
While there is no specific treatment for the illness, medical care to maintain a person’s fluid levels is seen as critical.
With inputs from agencies