ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Niña Taduran called on the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to pursue research on plants which can help repel mosquitoes.
Taduran expresses concern over the growing number of deaths related to dengue hemorrhagic fever virus which is being carried by the Aedes Egypti mosquitoes. Aside from dengue, mosquitoes also carry other life-threatening viruses like Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya and Malaria.
In Bicol alone, Taduran’s home region, 40 people have died and over 4, 000 others have been afflicted with the dengue virus in the past 7 months.
Taduran said that aside from the 4S (Search and destroy, Self protection measures, Seek early consultation and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak) which the Department of Health recommends to avoid contacting dengue virus, the people should also have natural protection against mosquito bites.
Among the natural repellents, based on the past researches, are: citronella, thyme, cinnamon, lavender, neem tree and tea tree. Currently, there are no formal studies on how to concoct and use these natural mosquito repellents.
DOH has declared a national dengue epidemic due to the fast increasing number of dengue victims in the country. From January to July of this year, 146, 062 people have been hospitalized due to dengue.
Recently, dengue claimed the life of child actress Niña Sophia “Sophie” Corullo, 6 years old.
According to her family, Sophie had a slight fever on the first day. She responded well to paracetamol and was still eating and energetic, which made her family think that it was just an ordinary fever.
Her fever became intermittent until the child actress couldn’t eat anymore and was catatonic. Sophie died of severe dengue.
