Bacolod City – The possibility of a dengue outbreak in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, was raised by local health authorities, after 137 cases of dengue, with two fatalities, were recorded in the barangay.
Dr. Mary Genevieve Montaño, Medical Specialist II and technical adviser of San Carlos City Health Office, said that the data on dengue cases is alarming, and if not addressed, might lead to an outbreak.
Citing results of the Entomological Survey conducted by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Montaño said that there are dengue carriers in the barangay, as most households store water in uncovered containers which serve as breeding habitats for dengue carrier mosquitoes.
She advised residents in the concerned barangay to clean their surroundings.
PHO records indicated that San Carlos City logged the greatest number of dengue cases among 31 component cities and towns of Negros Occidental.
The PHO Entomological Survey Team headed by Nurse Edjohn Javellana, which presented their findings during a meeting with Mayor Renato Gustilo and CHO staff on September 22, has recommended the activation of the Aksyon sa Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD), creation of a barangay resolution or ordinance for dengue to protect the health and welfare of the people in the community, involving of the school in practicing the 4 o’clock habit, sustaining the best preventive practices by keeping the environment clean, removing stagnant water, intensification of the Information Education Campaign (IEC), establishment of dengue fast lane, and purchase of NS1 fumigation chemical.
Mayor Gustilo agreed with the PHO recommendations and suggested CHO to conduct dengue awareness campaign in all the barangays of San Carlos City. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
