Local government officials of Zamboanga City are not only concerned with the possible entry of H1N1 virus spreading around the world as it is also trying to contain dengue cases from reaching an alarming level.

Every month, the City Health Office said more than 70 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever is registered in its office.

City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said the number is beyond the alert level, of around 60 cases every month, which is imposed by his office.
 
From January to April of this year, Zamboanga City registered 256 cases of dengue fever.

Agbulos believes dengue cases would still increase due to the unpredictable weather conditions that the city is experiencing now.
 
Last year, Zamboanga City registered 1,803 cases of dengue fever with nine mortalities compared to the 1,212 cases with 16 mortalities in 2007.

The doctor expressed alarm that within the period of four months this year alone, there were already four people who reportedly died of the illness.

Agbulos said that the City Health Office only registered one death in every 200 cases of dengue fever in 2008.

The local government is now preparing measures to prevent the increase of dengue fever through an intensified information campaign. Also, it will tap the help of barangay officials in conducting fogging activities in schools before the start of classes in June. Leila Vicente, ABS-CBN Regional News Bureau, Zamboanga City