LAOAG CITY — The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reminded all residents in the province to rid their homes and surroundings of breeding grounds of mosquitoes.
Dr. Josephine Ruedas, PHO head, said on Monday that for the past two years, Ilocos Norte maintained zero-casualty due to dengue until last month when two persons died due to the viral disease. The casualties were recorded from the towns of Solsona and Dingras.
The PHO recently led the conduct of fumigation in affected areas to drive away dengue virus-carrying mosquitos.
“We must be extra vigilant, especially since we are in the period of rainy season,” said Ruedas, as she explained that just a small bottle cap can be a breeding site of mosquitoes.
According to the Dengue Disease Surveillance Report of the Department of Health, more than 10,980 dengue cases had been reported nationwide from January 1 to February 10 this year.
This, however, is 41.38 percent lower than the 18,731 cases reported within the same period last year.
A total of 51 deaths had also been recorded for 2018, the DOH report added.
Likewise, it showed that 23 percent of those afflicted with dengue were minors 10-14 years old. (PNA)
