8 tons of anti-dengue chemicals imported

Anon-toxic chemical used to kill dengue-carrying mosquitoes will be imported from Canada by a civic group at the forefront of fighting dengue.

The Dengue – Free Philippines Movement announced yesterday that eight tons of Temephos, an organophosphate larvicide, will be delivered through the International Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Cebu-based pharmaceutical firm.

The chemical solution will be distributed to communities to be added in pools of stagnant water or other areas where water accumulates, possible sites for mosquitos to breed.

Dr. Wyben Briones said the movement is intensifying efforts to fight dengue, a viral disease carried by Aedys mosquito.

Since the rainy months of June to September are regarded as dengue season months, the target is to the wipe out mosquito larvae.

A Dengue Summit is set on on Saturday, July 6, at the Cebu Grand Hotel.

The summit is organized by the movement, a community effort that advocates the use of safe, scientific and cost-effective means to control or eliminate dengue in the Philippines.

The summit will be attended by the private and public sectors including the Department of Education as part of a five-year Dengue Larvicide Project of the DFPM that started in Cebu in 2010.

As of June 22, 6,908 cases of dengue and 21 deaths were reported in Central Visayas according to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit.

Dengue cases were 49.5 percent higher compared to the same period last year with 4,519 cases.

There were fewer deaths, however, or a decrease from 30 to 21.

Cebu City continues to have the biggest percentage of cases at 17 percent.

Briones said that aside from Temephos, mosquito larva or eggs can be killed by a saline solution of 50 percent sea water in 24 hours.

Pure sea water can be effective in two to four hours. A solution of soap and oil can alo kill larva.

“The use of larvicide like Temephos is a World Health Organization (WHO) recommended method,” said Briones, a neurosurgeon.

Briones said the larvicide can only be applied in stagnant water at one gram per square meter of surface area regardless of depth.

It can be applied in stagnant pools of water in roof gutters, water containers, water cisterns, flower pots and used tires.

Briones said Temephos is non toxic and safe to use.