Help fight dengue, public urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reiterated its call to the public to help eliminate breeding sites of mosquitoes in their communities after dengue cases this year rose 65 percent from last year.  

“It’s a shared responsibility. It cannot be done by the government alone. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes so if we want to fight dengue, we have to get rid of their breeding places and the best persons to do it are those in the neighborhood,” said Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, manager of the DOH’s Dengue Control Program.

From Jan. 1 to Aug. 16, the DOH recorded 48,759 dengue cases nationwide, up by 65 percent from the 29,400 cases registered during the same period last year.