Health Secretary Janette Garin said cases of dengue were high in Cavite province, Central Luzon and Central Visayas. At right is the Aedes aegypti mosquito which spreads the disease. INQUIRER FILES
Health Secretary Janette Garin appealed to the public on Wednesday to takes steps to prevent the spread of dengue as she noted a rise in cases in Cavite, Central Luzon and Central Visayas.
Garin said intermittent rain coupled with improperly stored empty cans and car tires were resulting in the spread of the disease.
“Umuulan, nawawala, umuulan. Makikita natin na may mga lata, yung iba goma kaya nagbi-breed ang lamok na may dala ng dengue. Dumarami na talaga ang dengue,” Garin told radio dzMM.
“Kaya paulit-ulit kaming nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan na i-maintain ang malinis napaligid,” she added.
The secretary noted the critical hours when the dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti) strikes.
“Yung lamok na may dala ng dengue kumakagat two hours after sunrise at two hours before sunset,” Garin said, airing special precaution for children who could be in school during these times.
Cavite officials have declared a state of emergency due to the high number of dengue cases the province, which has recorded 3,904 cases with 16 deaths from January to the first week of September.
But Garin said the high dengue incidence was not limited to Cavite.
“Bukod sa Cavite, yung areas ng Region 3 talagang tumaas dyan. Yung areas ng Central Visayas tumaas din,” she said.
She disclosed that the health department was also verifying the reported spike of the disease in certain areas in Mindanao. CB