DOH fights dengue in schools

One of every three dengue cases reported this year came from the 5-14 age group, a development that has prompted the Department of Health to focus on schools in its intensified preventive campaign against the mosquito-borne viral disease.

The dengue-carrying mosquitoes normally bite two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, which makes schoolchildren vulnerable to infection, Health Secretary Janette Garin said on Friday at the ceremonial installation of insecticide-treated screen (ITS) at North Fairview Elementary School in Quezon City.

As part of its antidengue program, the DOH will distribute 10,000 ITS rolls to public schools in areas where there has been a spike in cases or where an increase is expected.

These areas include Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Cordillera.

The screens emit permethrin, an insecticide embedded in each strand, which can kill mosquitoes but is not harmful to humans, the DOH said. The ITS screen is effective for five years.

The total project cost is P71 million, out of the P240-million budget of the DOH national dengue prevention and control program, Garin said.

As of Sept. 19, the DOH recorded 92,807 dengue cases, an increase of 23.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

The DOH has partnered with the Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and local government units to strengthen the antidengue campaign in schools and communities.