Dengue Cases to Increase, Keeping the Environment Clean Is the Best Preventive Measure- MHO

The number of Dengue cases is expected to rise in the town of Malay and in the Island of Boracay.

This is based on the pattern of Statistics wherein the number of cases of the infectious disease comes back almost every two (2) years according to Dr. Adrian Salaver, the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of Malay.

In relation to this, the MHO emphasized to the public to be vigilant and follow the four (4) “S” to avoid Dengue.

The four “S” according to Salaver are the following: 

• Seek and Destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes or where mosquitoes stay.
• Seek Early Treatment or seek early medical consultation for appropriate treatment.
• The third is Self Protection or the wearing of long sleeved shirts, pants, socks, and the use of insect repellant lotion to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
• And the fourth is Say No to Indiscriminate Fogging since indiscriminate fogging only drives mosquitoes away, which takes a long time to happen but that the mosquitoes will also come back. Furthermore, indiscriminate fogging is the most expensive method in fighting Dengue according to Salaver.

Salaver pointed out to the public that the most important is, if possible, to keep the environment clean since this is the most effective preventive measure.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Health Office of Malay has started an information dissemination campaign at schools. Anti Dengue Mosquito Traps are also being given to households according to Salaver.

For now, Anti Dengue Mosquito Traps are still available at the Health Center in Malay and in the island. And if the public is interested, the Local Government of Malay is ready to purchase additional traps.