ANTI-DENGUE DRIVE. Village workers in Poblacion, Burgos, Ilocos Norte put up health advisory on dengue prevention at a waiting shed and other public areas in the community. The intensified drive against dengue is in response to the Department of Health's declaration of national dengue epidemic. (Photo courtesy of Joegie Jimenez)
LAOAG CITY -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reminded all residents in the province to keep their surroundings clean to prevent the mushrooming of breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
From January to July 2019, the Provincial Health Office has recorded a total of 418 cases mostly from Laoag City with 96, Badoc with 63 and Batac City with 34 cases.
Of the 21 towns and two cities of the province, only the small towns of Adams with less than 2,000 population each, according to the PHO, has zero dengue-related case so far this year.
With the sudden increase of dengue cases this rainy season, Ilocos Norte provincial government in close coordination with the city, municipal and village health workers, has intensified preventive measures against possible dengue outbreak.
Earlier, personnel of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City conducted awareness campaign at the hospital and in local communities to prevent the rise of dengue cases.
As part of the information dissemination campaign, Dr. Josephine Ruedas, Acting Provincial Health Officer reiterated the effectiveness of the 4-S strategy-- “Search and Destroy” mosquito-breeding sites, employ “Self-protection measures,” “Seek consultation” and “Support fogging or spraying” only in hotspot areas.
"We must be extra vigilant, especially since we are in the period of rainy season,” she said. (PNA)
