The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) reminded to maintain clean surroundings to prevent mosquito-borne illness as part of its advocacy for National Dengue Awareness Month.

From January 1 to May 31, Bacolod logged 383 cases, including two deaths, higher by 137.9 percent compared to the previous year’s 161 cases without death.

There were five confirmed cases on May 11 to 17; 12 on May 18 to 24; and two from May 25 to 31.

Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said in an interview that dengue no longer occurs during the rainy season but all year round.

“The best thing to do to prevent dengue is to improve environmental sanitation. Let’s clean our environment. Take responsibility to avoid breeding places of pests,” she added.

The CHO has pushed for the revival of the “4 o’clock habit” campaign for communities to clean their surroundings, including stagnant canals and empty open water containers, every 4:00 p.m. daily to eliminate potential breeding sites for the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

It is part of the “4S” strategy to counter dengue — search and destroy mosquito breeding places; self-protection by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants and applying mosquito repellant; seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days; and support fogging or spraying in areas with high dengue cases.

In Bacolod, communities with the Top 10 highest cases are Mansilingan, 39; Estefania, 32; Tangub, 31; Taculing and Alijis, 24 each; Singcang-Aiport, 23; Villamonte, 22; Mandalagan, 20; Handumanan, 18; Cabug and Vista Alegre, 15 each. (PNA)