March 28, 2024

The public is reminded to put their guards up against dengue, as Benguet recorded 1,612 cases with three deaths since January.

As of July 9, the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Provincial Health Office reported dengue cases are 67 percent higher compared to the same period in 2021 with 445 cases.

From July 3 to 9, PHO recorded 153 new cases from the 13 towns of the province.

For the past three weeks, clustering of cases was monitored in Atok, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tublay, and Tuba.

A cluster indicates a specific area with active transmission during a four-week monitoring.

La Trinidad recorded the highest number of cases with 486 followed by Itogon with 357 and Bokod with 311 cases.

Provincial Health Officer I Meliarazon Dulay said larval surveillance especially in towns with high dengue cases has been conducted.

In Bokod, larval surveillance was conducted in barangays Ambuklao, Poblacion, and Karao.

The PHO-PESU found that 70 percent of the houses surveyed in Poblacion were positive for aedes larvae (aedes aegypti and albopictus). Also, one out of two building establishments surveyed was positive for the aedes larvae.

The breeding sites of these larvae were found in old tires, drums, garbage particularly cans and plastic cups outside of the households and establishments.

Around 92 percent of the houses surveyed in Ambuklao were positive for aedes larvae where breeding sites were identified in bromelia plants, tires, and stagnant water in poultry farms.

In Karao, 96 percent of the houses surveyed were found positive for aedes larvae found in bromelia plants, tires, and garbage like Styrofoams, plastic cups, basins, and water bottles.

The aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro virus, yellow fever, and other disease agents.

The mosquito can be recognized by black and white markings on its legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax.

Dulay has urged the municipalities to activate their anti-dengue teams and continue to practice the four o’clock habit to prevent the spread of dengue infection. – Ofelia C. Empian