DOH reminds public to continue 4 o’clock habit against dengue
With the onset of the rainy season, the Department of Health in Western Visayas reminded the public not to hold their guards down against dengue fever.
“While we are vigilant against the H1N1 virus, let us not forget also the threats posed by Dengue fever to body well-being,” said Regional Epidemiologist Glen Alonsabe of the DOH 6 during a press conference recently.
Alonsabe said that the Dengue cases in Western Visayas is low compared to last year’s record of the same period.
“Although we have already reported some deaths in Iloilo City, it is 40% lower compared to the cases we had last year,”Alonsabe said.
He suggested to continue the 4:00 o’clock habit and the four “S” in order to effectively prevent the occurrence of dengue in the area.
The 4-S include Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; Self-protection measures; Seeking early treatment; and Saying no to indiscriminate fogging.
The community plays an important role in the search and destroy aspect of preventing the Dengue fever.
The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person.
The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round, said Alonsabe as he stressed that the people in the barangay should put their acts together to destroy the breeding places of the dengue-causing mosquitoes. (PIA6/T.Villavert)