11 hospitalized after anti-dengue fogging operation in Valenzuela City

Eleven residents of Barangay Karuhatan in Valenzuela City, including two children and a pregnant woman, were hospitalized Friday morning following an anti-dengue fogging operation in their area, a report on "24 Oras" said.

The residents of Simeon Doon Compound were complaining of difficulty in breathing, vomiting, and dizziness, the report said.

"Ang tapang nung chemical, dati hindi ganoon," said a resident, who was rushed to the Valenzuela Medical Center. "Dati andiyan lang yung makapal na usok pero okay lang kami."

All the patients are now in stable condition, the report said.

Doctors who treated the patients blamed the chemical used in the fogging operation for what happened.

"Yung ginagamit doon is more of a pesticide [na] pag na-inhale pwede po natin ay pwede magkaroon ng allergic reaction dun sa patient," said Dr. Lordwyn Reyes in the report.

The Valenzuela City Health Office reportedly used deltamithrin, a kind of pesticide, in its anti-dengue fogging operation.

But according to Jaime Exconde of the Valenzuela City Health Office, deltamithrin, which they've been using for a long time, has been proven safe to use and is approved by the Department of Health.

The report said based on the initial investigation of the city health office, there was nothing wrong with the mixture of the pesticide.

"Kami rin nagtataka dahil actually continuation ito ng ginawa kahapon. Yesterday wala namang reported cases," he said. —KBK, GMA News