The government is continuing with its campaign for the public to observe measures against dengue, said DOH 7 Assistant Regional Director Lakshmi Legaspi.
Legaspi is reminding people of the “four o’clock” habit: cleaning up surroundings every 4 o’clock, the time when Aedis aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the disease, are on the prowl.
Cleaning the surroundings include sweeping and shaving bushes, covering water containers, making sure spare tires do not have stagnant water in them and changing water on flower vases at least every other day.
Flower vases
Legaspi said replacing water in the vase is not enough as vases should be washed and the insides brushed because it is where mosquito larvae thrive.
The doctor also warned against fogging.
“It’s not advisable because it does not kill the larva or the mosquito, they (mosquitoes) will only transfer to another place,” said Legaspi.
She also said that the Aedis aegypti mosquito thrives in clean water and not in brackish ones.
Because it’s the rainy season, Legaspi advised people to wear sweaters, which, she said, are in style at this time anyway. Using insect repellants are also advisable.
The DOH - National Epidemiology Center recorded a total of 5,436 dengue cases in the country since January. The figure is 16.2 percent lower than the same period last year, which had 6,482 cases.
Central Visayas has the third highest number of cases, at 622. Metro Manila had the most number with 1,244 cases followed by Calabarzon, with 743. (JGA)
