Molo’s Brgy. San Juan reported the most dengue cases in the city

As part of an initiative by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to combat dengue fever amid the ongoing rainy season, misting operations have begun at Iloilo City schools and markets. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), misting systems are designed to spray pesticides via a fine mist in order to kill mosquitoes and other insects.
The City Health Office (CHO) reports 55 public elementary schools, 11 high schools, 54 barangay day care centers, and six public markets have undergone misting operations.
Earlier, Treñas advised city barangays to purchase misting machines with CHO already announcing they would provide larvicide and train personnel for spraying operations.
However, the EPA noted, “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.”
Meanwhile, the CHO recently released dengue-related data that show Barangay  San Juan, in the city’s Molo district, reported the most dengue-related cases last month with 23. The said neighborhood has been among the top 10 affected communities since 2017.
As of last month, the CHO recorded a total of 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