OFFICIALS of the top 10 dengue-affected villages in Zamboanga City have been ordered to continue the conduct of vector surveillance in a bid to contain the increasing number of cases in their localities.

Dr. Dulce Amore Miravite, city health officer, issued the order after larvae of Aedes Aegypti, the dengue-carrying mosquito, was found to be 80 to 90 percent present in stagnant waters of the top 10 villages.

Miravite has advised village officials of the dengue-plagued villages to closely coordinate with them.

She said the vector surveillance for the affected villages revealed the high percentage of Aedes Aegypti larvae presence.

The top dengue-affected villages in the city include Talon-Talon, Calarian, Tugbungan, Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tetuan, Sta. Maria, San Roque, Ayala, Guiwan and Putik.

Miravite said cleanliness of the surroundings remains as the most potent prevention against dengue.

"The practice of '4S' strategy is still our best defense," she said, referring to search and destroy, self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging operations approach against the virus.

The City Health Office has recorded some 4,500 cases of dengue with 26 deaths since January this year.

In 2018, a total of 1,995 dengue cases with eight deaths have been recorded by the local health office. (SunStar Philippines)