Barangays told to implement Anti-Dengue measure
10 August 2021 β Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong directed barangay officials to conduct a weekly clean-up drive within their areas of jurisdiction to eliminate dengue breeding sites in compliance to the Anti-Dengue Ordinance of the City of Baguio.
In Executive Order No. 94 issued 9 August 2021, the mayor ordered all the 128 punong barangays in Baguio to immediately mobilize their Barangay Anti-Dengue Brigade (BADB) composed of the punong barangay, the barangay official in charge of the Committee on Health and Environment, the district health center medical officer, the barangay health workers and daycare workers.
Included in the order of the mayor is for the barangay officials to direct, instruct and assist all households and business establishments within their respective areas of jurisdiction for the conduct of daily search and destroy activities of dengue breeding sites.
City Epidemiologist Donnabel Panes reported a total of 671 dengue cases in Baguio from January 1 to August 6, 2021 equivalent to a 4-fold increase compared to the same period last year at 123 cases.
Ages of cases range from one month old to 90 years old with a median age of 26. Majority of the cases are males at 52.6%.
The City Health Services Office reported seven mortalities due to dengue.
At least 32 barangays were listed by the CHSO having clustering of dengue cases from July to August and the barangay officials already informed to take the necessary measures in cleaning up breeding sites of mosquitoes.
The Anti-Dengue Ordinance of Baguio City requires households and business establishments to properly and tightly cover all containers that may accumulate water as these are potential breeding sites of Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
The ordinance likewise requires the conduct of proper solid waste management and the elimination of breeding sites.
The CHSO earlier warned that the onset of rainy season often results in the increase of mosquito breeding places, thus the need for a collective effort from the public to implement appropriate control measures.
The health department advocates for the four S strategy against dengue: seek and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; seek early consultation; secure self-protection measures such as wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts as well as mosquito repellent; and, support fogging/ spraying in hotspot areas.
Dengue virus symptoms include headache, nausea, eye pain, high fever, rashes, muscle and joint pain as well as vomiting. β Jessa Samidan
