LGUs urged to help eliminate breeding places of mosquitoes

The Department of Health yesterday urged local government units to conduct environmental clean-up to eliminate mosquito sites as partial dengue cases report from January to June 15 this year showed a 41 percent increase in cases compared to the same period last year.

From January to June 15, there were 5,396 dengue cases admitted to different sentinel hospitals nationwide. From these cases, a total of 77 deaths were reported.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said, "with the onset of the rainy season, rainwater tends to accumulate in junked tin cans, bottles, tires, uncovered water containers, and clogged gutters which serve as possible breeding places for mosquitoes," he said.

The regions with the highest number of cases are Northern Mindanao (1,242); National Capital Region (965); CARAGA (683); Central Luzon (603) and Central Visayas (579).

According Duque, health workers, in coordination with local government executives, must intensify surveillance activities in areas with high number of cases to prevent the occurrence of outbreaks.

Ages of cases ranged from one month to 86 years and most affected group belonged to the 1-9 years age group. Case fatality ratio of 1 percent and greater was also noted among age groups less than one year and 1-9 years, majority (53 percent) of cases were male.

There were no current hotspots nor reported outbreaks. However, clustering of cases was noted in Parola Area, Dagupan Extension and Varona Street in Tondo and Brgy. Tartaria in Silang, Cavite.

Dengue is a disease caused by the bite of day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease's signs and symptoms include fever, rash, muscle and joint pains, and severe headache. In some cases, vomiting and loss of appetite may be observed.

To prevent dengue, Duque recommends that all domestic water containers should be tightly covered and its contents regularly replaced. Likewise old tires, bottles, flower vases, tin cans and all kinds of receptacle that can hold water and serve as mosquito breeding sites must be destroyed.