Cordillera no longer clueless about dengue

It was found that both Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus were

present in the village. Aedes mosquito larvae thrive on clear

stagnant water and adult mosquitoes in clean, dark and damp

places.

The DOH also found that 32.3 percent of the mosquito larvae

were discovered in discarded tires; 22.6 percent in open water

drums; 19.4 percent in small plastic containers; 12.9 percent in

open tin and aluminum cans; 6.5 percent in flower pots; 3.2

percent in barbecue stands; and 3.2 percent in kettles.

Bautista said the dengue epidemic in Barangay Cruz in La

Trinidad, Benguet, in 1998 could be attributed to mosquito

breeding places in discarded tires placed on the roofs of hovels

there.

He also said the permanent water shortage in Baguio had

contributed to the surge in dengue cases. Because water is

rationed every other day or even once or twice a week, residents

have no recourse but to store water in large drums, he said.

These drums are the major habitats of most larvae in the city,

Bautista said. Those placed inside houses are more susceptible

because the temperature is more conducive to the

dengue-carrying mosquitoes, he said.

Fighting dengue

Occidental said they were able to deduce the reasons for the

emergence of dengue in the city. These included population

growth and uncontrolled urbanization, improper solid waste

management and rapid rate of travel.

He said changing weather patterns (it was El Niqo then) could

be one of the reasons for the dengue resurgence, but this, he

added, was still ''debatable.''

He conducted an emergency meeting in November last year with

PAFP members regarding their plan for a dengue-free Baguio.

One of their projects is to form a lecturers' bureau composed of

academy members and representatives from the DOH and the

Baguio health department. They spoke in as far as Mankayan,

Benguet, which had 400 dengue cases last year.

''We had 900 people inside the Philex theater. The people said

that was the first time that many people were convened there.

Not even a movie of Fernando Poe Jr. can do that,'' said Micaela

Defiesta, a PAFP member.

Attending the lectures were teachers and officials of the

Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and members of

civic organizations.

Defiesta said they reproduced posters, flyers, pamphlets and

leaflets regarding dengue and distributed the materials to

barangay health units, private clinics and areas where they have

medical missions.

The PAFP also created a dengue monitoring committee for

vector surveillance.

The impact has been overwhelming.

Education officials decided to implement the ''4 o'clock habit'' of

emptying water containers and tires regularly. Media outfits

decided to allot newspaper spaces, and radio and TV time for

the PAFP.

Students of the Benguet State University promised to raise the

natural predators of mosquitoes, like frogs and fish. Social clubs

adopted hot spot barangays and fund their anti-dengue

programs.

It may still be early to say if the PAFP campaign is successful.

Dengue incidence is dramatically down this year in Baguio and

in other areas of the country.

But at least, Cordillera is no longer clueless regarding dengue,

and family physicians are no longer doubting Thomases.