LAOAG CITY — Officials and residents here have been reminded to clean up their homes, schools and surroundings to avoid having stagnant water where dengue-carrying mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Dr. Renato Mateo, City Health Officer of Laoag, said Tuesday a massive fumigation drive was conducted in Camella Homes in this city, where a 10-year-old boy suspected of contracting dengue has died.
As of July, the City Health Office has recorded more than 60 cases of dengue since the start of the year, all of whom had recovered except for the 10-year-old boy.
According to Mateo, they found a stagnant canal and an unused swimming pool near the area where dengue-carrying mosquitoes may have bred.
“Regular clean-up activities should be done all year round but most importantly, we should pay attention to stagnant water, including plants that store water in it. These are possible breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” he said.
The city government has asked all barangay officials to check drainage canals in their respective areas because a single blocked canal would result in clogging all over the city.
Laoag schools are also doing their share in the clean-up drive and have been conducting massive fumigation activities to protect children who are often the victims of dengue.
The city doctor also reiterated his advice to all parents to immediately bring their children to the nearest health center if they suffer from on-and-off fever, stomach ache and headache. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
