DOH: mosquito is Public Enemy No. 1

The Department of Health (DOH) has declared the Aedes aegypti mosquito as its “Public Enemy No. 1” for causing three illnesses—dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

DOH spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said the Aedes aegypti mosquito carries the triple threat of passing on the viruses that cause the three illnesses, which have registered rising cases this year.

Outbreak

The DOH said dengue cases this year have reached 142,247 cases, while chikungunya cases have reached 3,473 cases, Tayag said in a press briefing on Friday.

An outbreak of the chikungunya virus was declared in Indang, Cavite, where 51 were infected with the virus last September.

The DOH is also monitoring the Zika virus, a milder illness but which has been associated with birth defects when pregnant women are infected.

The DOH has recorded 15 cases of Zika virus infections nationwide. —Julie M. Aurelio