Authorities in one of the Philippines’ most densely populated urban centres are offering a cash reward for mosquitoes in an attempt to stop the spread of dengue fever.
Carlito Cernal, village chief of Barangay Addition Hills in the centre of Manila, announced a cash reward of one peso (less than two US cents) for every five mosquitoes.
Cases of dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes, have recently increased in the Philippines. The programme, which will last at least a month, was launched after two students in the area where Cernal lives died of the disease.
The bounty covers all mosquitoes and their larvae, he said. Live mosquitoes will be destroyed using ultraviolet light. More than 20 people have already claimed their bounty for 700 mosquitoes and larvae.
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) said it “appreciates the good intentions of local government leaders in the fight against dengue.”
“We urge all concerned to please consult and coordinate with their local health officers or the DOH regional office in their area for evidence-based practices that are known to work,” it said.
Cernal said he was aware that the reward proposal had been criticised on social media, but added: “This is one of the largest and most densely populated neighbourhoods. We have to do something to help the local authorities.”
He said the action should complement existing measures such as street cleaning and preventing the accumulation of water in which dengue-carrying mosquitoes lay their eggs.
