Fernando orders abrupt and intensified preventive measures against dengue

CITY OF MALOLOS – Due to the threat of dengue especially during the rainy season, re-elected Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando ordered abrupt and intensified preventive measures against dengue in an online meeting dubbed as the ‘Collaborative Efforts for the Dengue and Prevention Control’ hosted by the Provincial Health Office-Public Health (PHO-PH) last Wednesday.

Fernando said that fogging/spraying should be done regularly and ordered intense monitoring in the affected areas.

“Ang ating layunin ay babaan ang kaso ng dengue hindi lamang sa panahong ito. Ayon sa ating PHO officer, the whole year may dengue kaya dapat mandato na buwan-buwan na may fogging/spraying sa mga lugar na may mataas na kaso ng dengue. We should always have immediate action. Maganda na ‘yung handa dahil prevention ang pinaka mahalaga,” the governor said.

He also announced during the meeting about his plan to create an executive order requiring owners of business establishments to conduct fogging/spraying at least once a month as a preventive measure to end the spread of dengue disease.

Dengue Program Coordinator Cielito Nikki Ross Gonzales from PHO also encouraged everyone to follow the enhanced 4S strategies that includes search and destroy mosquito breeding sites; secure self-protection; seek early consultation and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent impending outbreak.

The governor also ordered the PHO-PH to conduct an orientation for barangay officials, health workers and volunteers to intensify the surveillance and implementation of the enhanced 4S strategies in each barangay.

According to the PHO-PH, Bulacan has recorded 2,737 cumulative total cases of dengue from January to June 11, 2022 which is 54% higher compared to the same period last year wherein most of the recorded cases (40%) were from the age bracket of 11 to 20 years old.

Among the municipalities with the highest number of dengue cases are the towns of San Miguel with 687 recorded cases, San Ildefonso with 215 cases; Santa Maria with 172 cases; Plaridel with 83 cases and Angat with 73 cases.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to human through the bite of an infected female mosquito called Aedes which carries the dengue virus. ###