BONTOC, Mountain Province – As a preventive measure against the killer dengue, teams were deployed in the different private and public schools in the capital town to conduct Dengue Indoor Residual Spraying and Larvicide Treatment.
This is an immediate intervention of the government in response to the increasing number of dengue cases in the municipality. Per record from the Municipal Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Municipal Health Office (MHO), the municipality has recorded a total of 138 cases from January 2023 up to the present (as of this writing). Of the number, ages 8-14 were mostly affected.
Thus, the Dengue Indoor Residual Spraying and Larvicide Treatment were conducted in schools including the All Saints Mission School, MP SPED Center, Bontoc Central School, and Saint Vincent’s School, Inc.-Elementary Department. Also, the All Saints Cathedral was included in the conduct of Dengue Indoor Residual Spraying and Larvicide Treatment.
The workforce included the personnel from the Municipal Health Office headed by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez, Criminology students of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College undertaking their internship at the Bontoc Municipal Police Station, the Department of Health-Human Resources for Health, and nurses of the Department of Education- Bontoc District.
Likewise, the Bontoc MHO promptly responded to the request of the Mountain Province Provincial Police Office-2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company Headquarters for the conduct of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) at their area on November 28, 2023. The IRS operation conducted by the MHO personnel was in collaboration with the nurse of the 2nd PMFC.
Relative to this, the MHO emphasized the 5S against mosquito-borne infections which include Search and destroy breeding sites; Self-protection from mosquito bites; Seek early medical consultation; Support fogging in areas with clustering of cases, and Sustain hydration.
Local health officials likewise enjoined the public to maintain clean surroundings since used tires, cans, and plastics which are potential breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Also, the public is advised to be cautious of symptoms. For Chikungunya, it includes fever, severe joint pain and swelling, headache, body pain, nausea, fatigue, and rashes. For dengue, these are headache, body weakness, joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rashes.
