Community control crucial in dengue control

MANILA, Philippines - As of July 17 this year, Department of Health (DOH) records show that there had been 31,375 reported cases of dengue, with more than 225 deaths. The figure is 33.8 percent higher than the dengue cases during the same period last year.

At present, the DOH is monitoring several barangays in 43 provinces where clustering of dengue cases has been observed.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona and National Epidemiology Center (NEC) director Eric Tayag have warned of a possible dengue outbreak in the whole ASEAN region. Hence, calls for local government units to step up their respective dengue prevention drives were made.

In the wake of the escalating cases of dengue in Laguna, Cavinti town Mayor Florcelie Esguerra, through the Sangguniang Bayan and the municipal health office, has partnered with LEADS Environmental Products Corp. and Best International for a lecture-seminar on the “Bionomics and Control of the Dengue Fever Mosquito.”

Prof. Benjamin Cariaso, Ph.D. (in Medical and Veterinary Entomology in the United States) discussed the symptoms, prevention and control of dengue.

Further, Cariaso emphasized the need for collective community undertaking to ensure that Cavinti will not provide breeding places for the Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for dengue.

Space and/or spot spraying with an effective insecticide such as Pesguard FG161 is recommended in places where adult mosquitoes congregate. This should be done simultaneously with the application of larvicide treatment such as Mosquiron to wipe out mosquito larvae.

However, Cariaso cautioned against space treatment on a small scale as this would complicate the process of controlling mosquitoes.

Pesguard FG161 contains the combined power of D-tetramethrin and Cyphenothrin making it the ideal insecticide for space and spot spraying.

Pesguard FG161 effectively eliminates adult mosquitoes. However, to ensure the elimination of disease-carrying insects, the application of Mosquiron is necessary as this would prevent mosquito larvae from developing into adult mosquitoes.

Likewise, shielding homes from the dengue-causing mosquitoes and other insects can best be done using Olyset Net instead of the usual wire screens.

Olyset Net is a bed net incorporated with Permethrin and has an efficacy guarantee for at least five years. This net can be used as replacement for window and door screens or curtains as it is tear-proof, wash-proof and never requires re-treatment.

Since there is still no vaccine available for dengue, vigilance and community-based information, cleanup and assisted vector control via space or spot spraying and larvicide application, are still the best tools to prevent the onset of dengue.

If the relatively small town of Cavinti, located some 100 kilometers from Manila, was able to champion a tripartite partnership among the municipal government, Best International and LEADS Environmental Health Products Corp., then such an undertaking can be replicated in areas that are now under the dengue alert or outbreak status.

For more information on how this partnership can be instituted on the local level, get in touch with LEADS (02) 687-9010, 0917-8805941 or 0917-859 854.

For specific areas in Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite, get in touch with Best International at (049) 536-3104 or 0917-0920908-2271.