Philippines Offers Cash Rewards for Mosquito Captures to Combat Dengue Surge

The initiative in a Manila neighborhood aims to reduce mosquito populations following a 40% spike in dengue cases nationwide this year.

Addition Hills, a densely populated area in Manila, has launched a program rewarding residents one peso for every five mosquitoes or larvae they capture, dead or alive.
The campaign follows a nationwide 40% increase in dengue cases compared to last year, with over 28,000 infections and 10 deaths reported in nearby Quezon City this year.
Village leader Carlito Cernal introduced the bounty after two student deaths in the area and hopes to supplement traditional mosquito control efforts like clean-up drives and canal unclogging.
Critics have raised concerns about potential abuse of the program, such as mosquito farming for profit, though officials plan to end the initiative once cases decline.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, has seen a global rise due to factors like climate change and urbanization, with over 14 million cases reported worldwide last year.