ZAMBOANGA City Health Officer Dulce Miravite emphasized anew the need for people to adopt the “4S” strategy against the mosquito-borne disease.
Miravite said this amidst mounting cases of dengue fever reported in the city and the mosquito swarm in two schools this week.
The “4S Contra Dengue” is said to be an effective strategy to prevent cases and deaths.
It consists of search and destroy mosquito breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation and say no to indiscriminate fogging.
Miravite said sustained cleanliness in surroundings to eliminate all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes to include trash piles, bottles, dirty surroundings and by emptying containers of stagnant waters.
Miravite said to protect one’s self from bites of adult mosquitoes, people should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, use mosquito repellents and or mosquito net when sleeping.
The health official advised the public to seek early consultation if and when they will have fever.
Miravite said the fogging and spraying should only be done in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered or where the presence of mosquitoes is evident.
“Fumigation is not an end-all solution for our dengue problem but we do this because we have to control the adult population of mosquitoes,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said that immediately after receiving the report about mosquito swarm at the Immaculate Conception Archdiocesan School (ICAS) in Tetuan Thursday, the City Health Office team went to check the area and did fumigation and spray with use of misting machines.
She said that larvicides were also provided to eliminate mosquito breeding places. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)