Dengue cases up 500% in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines - The local government of Valenzuela City on Tuesday began anti-dengue operations after dengue cases from January to July rose by 500 percent compared to last year. In her report over GMA's Unang Hirit, reporter Bernadette Reyes said that fogging operations to exterminate dengue-carrying mosquitoes were conducted in Marulas town, where dengue incidents are highest. The number of cases for the first seven months of the year rose to 433 compared to last year’s 73. The report quoted city epidemiologist Manuel Mapue Jr as saying that there is no dengue outbreak in the city yet although the local government is taking preemptive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. On Saturday, a dzBB report also quoted Mapue as saying that the intensified campaign against dengue is in time for the rainy season when dengue-carrying mosquitoes are likely to breed. The fogging operations will be conducted every 10 days. Operations will continue at Malinta town on Monday afternoon, said the report. Local officials have warned residents to properly cover their food as pesticide is contained in the fogging operations. Children and the sickly are also advised to stay at least 100 meters away from operations sites. Health authorities have earlier discouraged frequent fogging operations as means of exterminating dengue-carrying mosquitoes. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV