Stop dengue, sanitize communities, LGUs told

MANILA, Philippines – Local government units (LGUs) must conduct clean up drives to stop the spread of dengue virus, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday.

“The alarming increase of dengue cases in several areas should prompt LGUs to act now and act fast in arresting the spread of dengue in their respective areas. We should not allow dengue to debilitate our communities,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

The Department of Health (DOH) declared a national dengue alert on Monday amid an increase in reported cases of the viral illness caused by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in numerous regions.

READ: DOH declares national dengue alert

Hence, Año enjoined LGUs to coordinate with DOH representatives in identifying mosquito-breeding areas and carry out steps to contain its population.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said 106,630 dengue cases have been reported nationwide from January 1 to June 29, 2019, an 85 percent increase from the 57,564 cases reported over the same period last year. /gsg