A bite that may cause you a thousand years of pain!

Iloilo province recorded the highest number of dengue cases with two thousand
five hundred sixty one and twelve deaths. It is a place where in the past 10 years,
dengue cases occur almost on a monthly basis.

Before 1970, dengue affected only a few countries but since then it has spread
dramatically around the word, and today, more than 40% of the worlds’ population is
now at risk of dengue.

Dengue is one of the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

The, dengue virus is evolving with increased frequency of outbreaks and expansion to
new geographical areas. Just as with other infectious diseases, Dengue does not
recognize national borders.

Dengue is not an easy disease to prevent and control. Unfortunately, there is

neither an effective vaccine for prevention nor a drug to kill the dengue virus. It requires
a long term effort not only by governments but also by individuals and communities.

In order to control and prevent dengue, it is important to control mosquitoes

known as Aedes aegypti, and more rarely by the Aedes albopictus that transmit dengue
virus and to do so, it is important to eliminate the environment where mosquitos lay their
eggs and where larvae thrive until they reach adulthood.

Mosquitoes that transmit Dengue lay their eggs in small containers filled with
water that are often found in individual households. Meaning, your individual effort to
control the mosquito population is necessary to prevent and control the spread of
dengue in your community. At the same time, community action can provide support to
individuals to keep their households’ mosquito free.

In addition to that, when sleeping outdoors or in areas where mosquito

populations are heavy, surround your bed with "mosquito" netting. Screen windows,
doors and other openings with fine mesh. Avoid going outdoors at night. Use insect
repellent on exposed skin anytime you’re around mosquitoes. It disorients mosquitos
causing them to look elsewhere for food.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dengue remains a public health challenge for the
Province of Iloilo and the City of Passi and its control is everyone’s responsibility. While
individual households and communities make their effort, government must continue its
investment in community’s prevention and control efforts and to improve dengue
diagnostic and surveillance system.

I strongly encourage all of you to continue to vital information about dengue and
mosquito in order to contribute to early detection and response in our society.
Addressing this threat in a united and coordinated way will maximize our region’s
resources and secure our region’s health.

Together, let us slap and swat these deadly mosquitos before we experience a
bite that may feel a thousand year of pain. Thank you very much!