By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Health Office reminds all residents in the province to keep their surroundings clean to allow no room for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
From January to July 2019, the Provincial Health Office has recorded a total of 418 cases mostly from Laoag City with 96, Badoc with 63 and Batac City with 34 cases.
Of the 21 towns and two cities of the province, only the small town of Adams with less than 2,000 population, according to the PHO has zero dengue-related case so far this year.
With the sudden increase of dengue cases this rainy season, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte in close coordination with the city, municipal and village health workers have intensified preventive measures against possible dengue outbreak.
Earlier today, personnel of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City continue to conduct dengue awareness campaign at the hospital and in local communities to prevent the rise of dengue cases.
As part of the information dissemination campaign, Dr. Josephine Ruedas, acting provincial health officer reiterated the effectiveness of the 4-S strategy: “Search and Destroy” mosquito-breeding sites, employ “Self-protection measures,” “Seek consultation” and “Support fogging or spraying” only in hotspot areas.
Barangay officials are also actively engaged in clean-up drives to lessen dengue cases in the province.
"We must be extra vigilant, especially since we are in the period of rainy season,” she said.
