DepEd intensifies dengue prevention in schools

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has ordered an intensified information campaign on dengue in public schools to prevent a spread following an upsurge of cases in Metro Manila and Morong, Rizal.

"The department has already established measures for the awareness, prevention and control of dengue in our schools," Lapus said, referring to Department of Education memorandum issued last year ordering an information campaign in public schools on dengue prevention.

It also called for cooperation between public schools, parent-teacher associations, local governments and health centers.

The DepEd’s priority is to keep students well informed on how to protect themselves, Lapus said.

Local DepEd officials have been ordered to closely watch out for signs of dengue.

The Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring 24 areas across the country where dengue cases have appeared.

These areas are Caloocan City, Malabon, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig and Valenzuela; Calasiao and Dagupan in Pangasinan; Baliuag, Marilao, Meycauayan, Santa Maria and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Taytay, Rizal; Dumaguete City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Tanjay and Bais in Negros Oriental and Itogon, Benguet.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center (NEC), said the department is closely working with local officials in these areas to prevent a spread.

The DOH is recommending a massive environmental cleanup to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

"The best way to fight dengue is to get rid of the breeding sites of mosquitoes. I think more rains are expected to occur in the coming days. We’ll see more dengue cases, unless we take away their breeding sites," he noted.

The DOH is not recommending fumigation unless there is an epidemic.

In outbreak sites, relentless fumigation for one to two weeks is recommended but this must still be accompanied by cleanup operations.

Tayag added that fogging might only give residents a false sense of security. Fumigation only kills adult mosquitoes, he explained.

DOH records showed that from January to Aug. 29, there were 13,467 dengue cases, with 167 deaths. This is 42 percent lower for the same period last year.

Most cases come from Metro Manila (4,222), followed by Central Luzon (1,898) and Central Visayas (1,752). — With Sheila Crisostomo