Baguio City (CNN Philippines) — Dengue cases continue to rise in the Cordillera Region after monsoon rains have battered the region for the past two weeks, creating more breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Department of Health (DOH) Program Coordinator for Dengue Dr. Alexei Marrero says as of July 13 the region posted a 48 percent increase in dengue cases, mainly in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet and Mountain Province.
Marrero says their concentration now is in Mountain Province where there is a 500 percent increase in dengue cases, particularly in the town of Paracelis.
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He added that areas with posted unprecedented number of increased cases were already allowed to conduct misting or fogging operations to eliminate dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The DOH regional office is now concentrating on fogging operations in the towns of Paracelis in Mt. Province and Luba in Abra due to high cases of dengue.
This year, the region has recorded two deaths, one involving an 85-year-old man from San Jose, Luna, Apayao and a seven-year-old child from Rosario, La Union who was treated at the Baguio General Hospital.
Aside from fogging activities, Marrero stressed it is important to conduct clean-up activities or search and destroy activities, stressing that dengue cases are prevalent during the rainy season because dengue mosquitoes tend to breed on wet places.
“The public should always keep their surroundings dry. If there’s stagnant water, drain it. Using mosquito repellent is also helpful. Most of all, clean house and workplace can prevent dengue from breeding,” Marrero stressed.
