An urban village of more than 100,000 residents living in crowded neighborhoods and residential condominium towers, Addition Hills has done clean-ups, canal de-clogging and a hygiene campaign to combat dengue. But when cases spiked to 42 this year and two young students died, village leader Carlito Cernal decided to intensify the battle.

Michael Labag shows the 9 pesos reward he got from the 45 mosquito larvas he captured in Mandaluyong city, Philippines as the village started offering bounty for captured mosquitoes, dead or alive, as part of an anti-dengue campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

“There was an alarm,” Cernal told The Associated Press. “I found a way.”

Residents will get a reward of one Philippines peso (just over 1 cent) for every five mosquitoes or mosquito larva they turn in, Cernal said.

Critics warned the strategy could backfire if desperate people start breeding mosquitoes for the reward. Cernal said that was unlikely because the campaign would be terminated as soon as the uptick in cases eases.

A mosquito, captured by a resident, flies to a glass enclosure with a UV light trap in Mandaluyong city, Philippines, after their village started offering bounty for captured mosquitoes as part of an anti-dengue campaign on Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

As the campaign began, about a dozen mosquito hunters showed up at the village office. Miguel Labag, a 64-year-old scavenger, handed a jug with 45 dark mosquito larvas squirming in some water and received a reward of nine pesos (15 cents).

“This is a big help,” Labag said, smiling. “I can buy coffee.”

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection found in tropical countries worldwide. It can cause joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rashes, and in severe cases can cause breathing problems, hemorrhaging and organ failure. While there is no specific treatment for the illness, medical care to maintain a person’s fluid levels is seen as critical.

Miguel Labag shows a container with mosquito larvas which he caught outside his house in Mandaluyong city, Philippines, in pursuit of a bounty being offered for captured mosquitoes as part of an anti-dengue campaign, on Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Officials in another village in Quezon City were considering releasing swarms of frogs to eat mosquitoes.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said it’s crucial to clean up mosquito breeding sites, and for anyone who might be infected to seek immediate medical attention. Despite an increase in dengue infections, the Philippines has managed to maintain low mortality rates, he said.

Dengue cases surged unexpectedly ahead of the rainy season, which starts in June, likely because of intermittent downpours that have left stagnant pools of water where dengue-causing mosquitoes can breed, Health Undersecretary Alberto Domingo said, adding that climate change was likely contributing to off-season downpours.