EPA yet to determine the effectiveness of misting systems

In an effort to combat dengue fever amid the ongoing rainy season, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas advised city barangays to purchase misting machines as a means of combating the virus. In addition, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) has also already announced they will provide larvicide and train personnel for spraying operations.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, misting systems are designed to spray pesticides via a fine mist in order to kill mosquitoes and other insects. The agency also notes, “Outdoor residential misting systems have not yet been studied sufficiently to document their effectiveness in controlling mosquitoes or other yard and garden pests, nor have they been scientifically proven to control or prevent the spread of West Nile Virus or other diseases.”
Executive Assistant for Barangay Affairs Fernando Jose Rico has already been tasked to discuss the matter with barangay captains across the city regarding the matter.
As of last month, the CHO recorded a total 597 local dengue cases with five deaths.
In addition, data from the Department of Health-Region VI gathered between January 1 and June 1 of this year showed the region is currently experiencing a 198 percent increase in recorded cases of dengue fever. The department reported 8,613 cases, with 48 deaths, this year; a staggering increase from the 2,886 cases and 23 deaths recorded during the same period in 2018./WDJ