THE Tropical Disease and Control Division of the City Health Office said there are no cases of malaria in Barangay Tapak, Paquibato District.
This was what the team found out when they went to the area on March 22 and 23 to follow up the nine cases of malaria recorded in the area in September of last year.
Pest Control Worker 2 Melodina R. Babante said that around 624 residents were able to avail of the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for malaria, the results of which are known in just 15 minutes.
The RDT requires the blood sample of the subject.
Babante said that eight persons who were found positive with malaria last year yielded negative results. Another one, however, who had been found positive of malaria could not be located.
Babante said they also gave NS1 test for dengue to 624 residents. One was found positive.
Aside from the malaria and dengue tests, their team also gave free medical checkup and referral letters to hospitals and provided vitamins to pregnant women in the area.
Babante said that they will visit the area again after six months to check again the blood samples of the residents.
She said that in 2016, they have recorded three positive malaria cases in the area.
They were hopeful that Paquibato will have no malaria cases just like Marilog which has a zero malaria case for four years.
"Once we reach five years in Paquibato without malaria cases, and if we have a complete proof, Paquibato can be declared as malaria-free," Babante said.