Private sector boosts anti-dengue drive

Rotarians and barangay health workers yesterday launched an anti-dengue campaign in 20 barangays with the most number of dengue cases in Cebu City.

Dr. Wyben Briones of the Cebu Medical Society and the Rotary Club of Cebu-Metro said they are starting this year’s anti-dengue campaign earlier in preparation for today’s opening of classes.

Their larvicide campaign involves applying the chemical abate, an organic phosphate insecticide effective against the larvae of mosquitoes.

Abate, according Briones is safe to humans and mammals, but potent against mosquito larvae.

They apply larvicide granules on water suspected to be breeding grounds for mosquito larvae or about  0.5 to 1 gram of the chemical per aquare meter of water. For polluted water,  they apply more of up to 2.5 grams per square meter.

Briones said that even if the rainy season is just starting, there was already a  sporadic increase in dengue cases this year.

Quoting data from RESU 7, Cebu City tops the number of dengue cases for the period of January to May 26 with a total of 1, 254 admitted cases and 8 deaths.

Dengue cases in Cebu is 17 percent higher compared to the same period last year which registered 717 cases of dengue, resulting in seven deaths.

Dr. Lee James Maratas, head of the pediatrics ward of the Cebu City Medical Center, said it is a misconception to think that dengue only occurs during the rainy season.

He said dengue incidence in Cebu City was high in the dry season.

Briones said their group has been campaigning for reduction of dengue cases in the Metro Cebu area for the last two years.

Yesterday, they only focused in two 20 Cebu City barangays listed with the most number of dengue cases this year.

Briones said they tapped the assistance of 300 barangay health workers for this purpose.

The barangay is tasked to coordinate with the assigned Rotary team to identify the suspected breeding ground and provide them with security.

They are also calling for public support in their fund drive for the purchase of larvicide abate. /Edison A. Delos Angeles, Correspondent