DENGUE SURVEILLANCE. Health workers in Burgos, Ilocos Norte conduct a "surveillance operation" to check the presence of dengue-carrying mosquitoes on Monday (June 6, 2022). The Provincial Health Office has reported 77 dengue cases since January. (Contributed photo)
LAOAG CITY – Villagers, mostly composed of local officials and volunteers with brooms and pruning knives on Monday conducted a massive cleanup drive to rid the province's streets and waterways of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Dr. Rogelio Balbag, executive director of the Provincial Health Council, said several teams from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) were formed not only for the cleanup drive but also to make the public aware of precautions against the mosquito-borne disease through the "4S Kontra sa Dengue" campaign.
The 4S stands for: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites; Self-protection; Seek early consultation; and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.
With the onset of the rainy season, Balbag said Ilocos residents were reminded to closely monitor their areas against the spread of dengue.
The barangay, municipal, and provincial dengue brigades have already been activated as the province is placed on alert level status.
The province has recorded a total of 77 dengue cases since January, this year. Most of these cases came from the cities of Laoag and Batac.
“We urge everyone to push for the 4 p.m. environmental cleaning habit in all barangays,” said Balbag, adding that public hospitals have hired additional staff to monitor dengue cases. (PNA)
