ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The head of the City Health Office said on Friday that the local government has tapped the assistance of the barangay officials in the campaign amid the increase in dengue cases in this city.
Dr. Dulce Amore Miravite, City Health Office chief, told the Philippine News Agency that they have discussed, in a meeting with barangay officials, the conduct of “search and destroy” even once a week to minimize, if not eradicate, cases of dengue.
“As you see, if there is an anti-dengue activity in the barangays, the cases of dengue decrease. But if it is not sustained, we observed that the cases increase again,” Miravite said.
Miravite said they have so far recorded 4,186 cases of dengue with 24 deaths since January this year.
She said the barangays with high cases of dengue are Talon-Talon, Calarian, Tugbungan, Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tetuan, Sta. Maria, San Roque, Ayala, Guiwan, and Putik.
She said the number of cases recorded this year is higher than the 1,995 dengue cases and eight deaths recorded in 2018.
The health official appealed to the residents to cooperate with them by maintaining clean surroundings to deny dengue carrier mosquito a breeding place.
“It’s important that everybody should take responsibility. Get involved, do your part,” she added.
Meanwhile, Miravite said she has requested the city government to purchase dengue test kits, fogging and misting machines, to include medicines, medical supplies, and larvicides.
Dengue fever is a viral disease usually affecting infant and young children. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which lay eggs on clear and stagnant water, are the spreader of the disease.
The signs and symptoms of dengue fever include sudden high fever, joints and muscle pain, skin rashes, nose bleeding, vomiting of coffee-colored matter, and dark-colored stool. (PNA)
Zambo health office taps village execs in fight vs. dengue
By R. G. Antonet Go
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