Web can trap mosquitoes: Stop catching spiders, city dad urges

CEBU, Philippines – Councilor Edgardo Labella is urging barangay officials and the Department of Education to stop the current trend of catching spiders for fun, saying spiders can actually help solve the spread of dengue.

In a resolution, which will be tackled by the City Council, Labella said the web produced by spiders is effective in trapping mosquitoes.

"Since spiders in their natural habitat are also said to have reduced mosquitoes significantly, and since the dengue menace, directly caused by mosquitoes, continues to haunt the public, it appears only appropriate to preserve spiders and refrain from removing them from their niche," Labella's resolution reads.

Labella said spider fights have become very common in public markets and schools these days, some even reportedly using spiders for illegal gambling. Some spider fights, he said, are even conducted right at the entrances of schools and in waiting areas. He said access to these spiders has become easier because there are vendors who actually sell them.

Labella also reminded parents that catching spiders could be dangerous to their children because some spider bites can result to death if not treated immediately. 

Dr. Dwanie Conlu, officer-in-charge of the Animal Bite Center, said parents should remind their children that spiders should be left alone, as such arachnids bite when provoked.

As of yesterday, the dengue cases in Cebu City had already reached 1,803 with 13 deaths so far.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health in Central Visayas has started orientations on the use of treated nets at schools in Barangays Guadalupe and Labangon, two of the six barangays that belong to the so-called epidemic threshold in Cebu City

These treated nets are said to have chemical mosquito repellent that can kill within contact. One roll costs 7,000 pesos, which is effective for five years. These nets look like ordinary screen windows.

According to the 37th Morbidity Week dengue update of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, a total of 7,241 cases were seen, examined and updated at different RESU7 disease reporting units from January 1 - September 18, 2010. There were 52 deaths which is 46.4 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Most of the cases belonged to the six-10 years age group. Majority of these cases were from Cebu City (26 percent) followed by Tagbilaran City (6.2 percent), Lapu-Lapu City (4 percent) and Toledo City (3.1 percent).

Susanna Madarieta, DOH-7 regional director, encouraged and recommended the public to clean all possible mosquito breeding places including flower vases, dish drains, old tires, roof gutters, even bougainvillea, banana and other plants where water can pool or accumulate.

She also suggested the use of protection such as mosquito nets, insect repellent lotion and even window screens, as well as covering possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes such as water receptacles like drums, and jars.

She said these treated nets, if found effective, may be implemented to all private and public schools nationwide. - Rene U. Borromeo and Riz Joy Tumulak, USJ-R Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)