DOH-7 Urges Public to Clean Surroundings As One Zika Virus Confirmed in Cebu

The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 on Wednesday urged the public to keep their surroundings clean to eliminate all breeding places of mosquitoes as one Zika virus case was confirmed in Cebu.

The DOH said the eradication of mosquito-breeding places is the responsibility of all members of the community.

DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said that although a Cebuano has been confirmed positive of the disease, dengue fever is more dangerous.

He said there are stages on Zika, but dengue’s manifestations are more dangerous.

Both dengue and the Zika virus are spread by the same mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, which breeds in stagnant water.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III ordered Wednesday all departments and line agencies in his area of responsibilities to conduct massive cleanup province-wide for the prevention of Zika, chikungunya and dengue virus.

Meanwhile, the Cebu-based Dengue-Free Philippines Movement said it will conduct a massive larvicide campaign in Central Visayas sometime in the middle of next month to kill the larva of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Dr. Wyben Briones, founder of the movement, said the larvicide campaign will be conducted with the assistance of the Department of Education 7. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS