Mosquito population explosion not of the nasty kind, says DOH

Aedes aegypti mosquito, carrier of the dengue virus

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health allayed fears Friday about a possible surge in mosquito-borne diseases, saying the noticeable explosion of the mosquito population involved the less nasty ones.

Dr. Eric Tayag, assistant health secretary and head of the National Epidemiology Center, assured residents that there were no grave health concerns over the swarming of big mosquitoes in Pasig City and in Tondo, Manila.

“House mosquitoes, e.g. culex, do not spread dengue or Chikungunya,” Tayag said in his Twitter account (@erictayagSays).

Citing tests conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Tayag said the mosquitoes that have swarmed the two areas are “culex pipiens” or common house mosquitoes.

These mosquitoes, while not directly carriers of disease, are nevertheless an indication of a lack of cleanliness in the infested areas, Tayag said.

“A swarm of mosquitoes indicates ‘dirty’ communities, where there is abundance of breeding sites,” he added.

Tayag noted that the increase in the number of house mosquitoes usually depends on the climate, breeding sites, and urban crowding.

House mosquitoes, he said, bite mostly at night and thrive in dirty, stagnant water.

The DOH urged residents to maintain a clean environment. He also advised residents to use insect repellents, wear long sleeves and pants in order to avoid being bitten.

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