Dengue cases here have reached a "seriously alarming" level with 529 cases and six deaths recorded for the first five months of the year, reports from the City Health Office (CHO) said.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said the January to May records are quite disturbing especially since there were only 92 cases registered for the same period in 2011 with two deaths.

For May 2012 alone, the cases went as high as 168 with two dead patients, compared to 19 cases with no death registered during the same month last year.

Last year's figures for the first five months were even lower than the 112 cases and two deaths tallied in 2010.

"I am once again calling for cooperation of every Ilonggo to have regular community clean-up activities so that we can totally stop the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes," he stated.

"The best way to eliminate dengue is really to maintain clean surroundings," the mayor added.

Mabilog said the team from CHO is conducting mist-spraying operation in schools and barangays.

Some schools and a hotel availed of it last week, while barangays Desamparados in Jaro and Calumpang in Molo are scheduled this week, executive assistant for health Patrick Alan Sy said.

A chemical is sprayed on canals and other areas that have clean, stagnant water to kill the larva of mosquitoes.*ICPIO