MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring the possible spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes that may now be thriving in dirty environments such as septic tanks, as was discovered in Peru, a health official said yesterday.
“Dengue-carrying mosquitoes’ natural habitat is clean and stagnant water. But Peru just reported the discovery of dengue-carrying mosquitoes that can actually harbor the dengue virus underground, in the septic tank,” said Health Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag.
He said there is likely to be a sudden increase in dengue cases if the disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito adapts to dirty environments in the country.
“It has an implication because the mosquito population will more than double... So, therefore, it is going to be a year-round problem,” he said.