ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Zamboanga City health officials declared a dengue outbreak on Tuesday amid a rising number of people in the city who are being downed by the illness. 

City health officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said 20 people have died of dengue from 1,584 cases recorded in the city since the start of the year.

A total of 1,009 dengue cases, with 8 deaths, were recorded in 2009.

The illness may cause havoc in 20 barangays, he added. 

Dr. Dulce Dagalea said experts are currently trying to determine the dengue strain that hit Zamboanga City this year. 

City Mayor Celso Lobregat, meanwhile, shrugged off criticisms that his administration failed to declare an outbreak before it became full-blown.  

He said the local government had to follow procedures. 

Lobregat added that city health officials are coordinating with the Department of Health, government hospitals, and village officials to launch new programs to fight the spread of the disease. 

The city government also plans to buy additional equipment that will be used to clean community areas where mosquitoes thrive. – with a report from Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN Zamboanga