By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Philippines health officials are reporting that the National Capital Region (NCR), or the Metro Manila area has exceeded the alert threshold for dengue fever recently, prompting a Regionwide Synchronized Dengue Clean-up Drive.

Image/DaGreen99 via pixabay

According to the latest Dengue Surveillance Report of the DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD), the National Capital Region exceeded the alert threshold by July 27, 2019 (Morbidity Week 30) with 856 cases reported in that week, higher than the 811 cases reported in the same week last year.

It was also reported that there were a total of 11,123 dengue cases in NCR as of August 10, 2019. This is 8% lower than the same period in 2018, but 33% higher than the previous five-year average (2014-2018). Majority of cases belong to the 5-9 years age group consisting mainly of schoolchildren.

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This led Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte today to kick-off the clean up drive in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City. Similar activities were held simultaneously across Metro Manila through collaboration with 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Departments of Education, Interior and Local Government, Science and  Technology, and Commission on Higher Education.

Furthermore, collaboration with the DOST – Philippine Council for Research and Development and the UP Manila College of Public Health have allowed the use of enhanced ovitraps (L-Traps) which trap adult female mosquitoes. These ovitraps contain insecticide growth regulators that kill larvae and inhibit larval development.

“I encourage the public to practice daily the 4S Strategy: Search and destroy, Self-protection measure, Seek early consultation when symptomatic, and Support space spraying in identified areas with clustering of cases,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque declared.

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