Vice mayor leads citywide movement vs dengue

ILOILO City Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III is spearheading a mass movement in the battle against the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes as the disease continues to escalate in the city’s villages.

Espinosa, at the same time, is hopeful the city residents will help prevent the spread of the disease by practicing the citywide 4 o’clock habit of cleaning the surroundings every day.

Espinosa said the fight against dengue must be taken seriously by the residents as the initiative is practical at no cost to the City Government and doable in all barangays.

The City Health Office reported that dengue already claimed seven lives in the city and 529 cases have been recorded from January to May 2012, as compared to the eight deaths and 425 cases recorded for the whole year in 2011.

Espinosa said the mass movement is inspired by the zero dengue case in Barangay Calaparan due to its practical Operation Kaya Kulod, which has been proven an effective battle against the dengue.

Calaparan village chief Cecilia Nava reported that their barangay council passed a resolution enjoining all residents to turn over all cans, bottles, coconut shells, used tires, bamboo poles and other contraptions that hold water so as to eradicate the breeding ground of mosquitoes.

The Department of Health reported the spread of a new strain of dengue virus carried by mosquitoes aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus that thrive even in murky stagnant water.

Espinosa said these mosquitoes carrying the new strain of dengue bite even at night in lighted places.