ILOILO – To curb dengue cases, indoor residual spraying was conducted in the towns of Banate, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Leon, Pavia, Pototan, Sara, and the component city of Passi.
The spraying was done in villages where clustering of cases was observed (three or more cases were detected in four consecutive weeks), said Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Covered by the spraying were households within the 300-meter circumferential radius from where dengue cases were recorded.
The residual indoor spraying was conducted by the PHO in cooperation with the Department of Health.
Quiñon said the spray technicians and personnel were trained how to do it safely.
Social preparations were conducted prior to spraying such as informing residents to stay out of their houses for two hours.
“Although the chemicals were water-based, we made sure the safety of everybody, especially the elderly and the children,” said Quiñon.
The chemical Deltamethrin or AquaK Othrine were used in the indoor spraying.
Because the spraying only targets adult mosquitoes, Quiñon said residual indoor spraying should be coupled with efforts to search the mosquitoes’ breeding places.
She stressed the importance of activating Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) in villages. This calls for daily clean up drives.
“We should destroy their breeding places to combat dengue cases,” said Quiñon.
Dengue mosquitoes live and breed in clear, stagnant water.
The PHO has so far recorded 699 dengue cases this year from January 1 to March 2.
Pototan had 99 cases and one death; Passi City had 68 cases; and Calinog had 38. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN
