Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte today led the kick-off for the Regionwide Synchronized Dengue Clean-up Drive for Metro Manila. The activity was held in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City.
 
Similar activities were held simultaneously across Metro Manila through collaboration with 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Departments of Education, Interior and Local Government, Science and  Technology, and Commission on Higher Education.
 
Based on the latest Dengue Surveillance Report of the DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD), the National Capital Region exceeded the alert threshold by July 27, 2019 (Morbidity Week 30) with 856 cases reported in that week, higher than the 811 cases reported in the same week last year.
 
It was also reported that there were a total of 11,123 dengue cases in NCR as of August 10, 2019. This is 8% lower than the same period in 2018, but 33% higher than the previous five-year average (2014-2018). Majority of cases belong to the 5-9 years age group consisting mainly of schoolchildren.
 
In response to the National Dengue Epidemic, the LGUs conducted regular community and school clean-up drives and implemented vector control measures such as the installation of ovitraps and insecticide treated screens in public elementary schools, space spraying, and Targeted Outdoor Residual Spraying in dengue hotspot areas. 
 
Furthermore, collaboration with the DOST – Philippine Council for Research and Development and the UP Manila College of Public Health have allowed the use of enhanced ovitraps (L-Traps) which trap adult female mosquitoes. These ovitraps contain insecticide growth regulators that kill larvae and inhibit larval development.
 
“I encourage the public to practice daily the 4S Strategy: Search and destroy, Self-protection measure, Seek early consultation when symptomatic, and Support space spraying in identified areas with clustering of cases,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque declared.