Tuesday, August 03, 2004 Team identifies breeding areas of dengue carrier mosquitoes
THE Provincial Disaster Management Team (PDMT) identified the possible breeding areas of dengue carrier mosquitoes in Pulupandan.
Based on the joint investigation that the PDMT and the Provincial Health Office conducted last July 30, they identified that the possible breeding areas are Asian Alcohol and the Philippine Ports Authority.
In its report, PDMT said an area in Asian Alcohol was identified with dense mosquito population particularly at the dumping site of waste materials.
Dark areas can be found at Asian Alcohol because of the presence of tall trees. These areas are also moist with the presence of oil barrels and rubber pipes.
In the PPA, which is situated at the coastal area, the team discovered the presence of four long water-impounding areas.
Each area is halfway full of rainwater, not covered, and full of tadpoles although no larvae was noted.
This came following the deaths of four children aged three to eight, while 43 others were hospitalized due to dengue.
Those who died were Ronn Jesten Martinez, 8, of Barangay I-A; Sumpra Mae Rafols, 8, of Barangay Zone-6; Patrick Pura, 3, of Barangay 6; and Noel Jaud, 3, of Barangay Zone-4.
The investigation team recommended the trimming down of trees in the dumping area of Asian Alcohol to make it fully accessible to sunlight.
The company is also advised to eliminate all containers that collect water as well as the stagnant water, and to dispose their solid waste properly.
In the PPA, investigators said the company should introduce larvaevorous fish, and conduct biological prevention to water impounding culvert that would consume any larvae of mosquito, or at least, cover the area with sand and soil.
The team advised the municipality to monitor the program for dengue prevention.
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