(Adnkronos) – A bounty on mosquitoes. It is happening in the Philippines. In one of the country’s most populous urban centers, a cash reward is being offered to anyone who catches or kills mosquitoes. It is presented as the latest weapon in the fight against the spread of Dengue. A peso, less than two euro cents, for five mosquitoes, whether alive or dead or larvae, announced Carlito Cernal, ‘mayor’ of Barangay Addition Hills. The stated goal is “to do something to help local authorities” and stem the dangerous rise in Dengue cases.
He spoke of a necessary measure to protect health, which adds to the measures already in place, starting with street cleaning. An ‘incentive program’ that will run for at least a month. The promise is in-depth examinations of live mosquitoes. And, as the BBC reports, despite criticism on social media already 21 people have reportedly come forward to claim their reward, delivering 700 ‘prey’, including mosquitoes and larvae. The Department of Health limited itself to “appreciating the good intentions”, stressing the need for coordination with the competent authorities with the thought going to “effective evidence-based practices”. According to official data, as of February 1 there are 28,234 cases of Dengue registered, an increase of 40% compared to the previous year.
