The City Health Office (CHO) urged Bacolod residents on Tuesday, August 27, to revive the 4 o’clock habit of cleaning their surroundings as dengue cases increased by almost 118 percent from January to mid-August compared to the cases in the same period last year.
Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli, city health officer, said that from Aug. 11 to 17 alone, there were 192 new cases, higher than the 168 cases recorded from Aug. 4 to 10.
“My request is to reactivate the four o’clock habit in the barangays. We would appreciate for everyone to be aware of the dengue crisis and for them to clean their surroundings. This would be a big help to us and everyone,” Gensoli said in an interview.
Through the 4 o’clock habit advocacy campaign, the Department of Health (DOH) seeks to encourage communities to clean their surroundings, including stagnant canals and empty open water containers, every 4 p.m. daily to eliminate potential breeding sites for dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
It is part of the “4S” strategy to counter dengue, including the Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.
In Bacolod, the most identified mosquito breeding places are collected water in uncovered containers inside homes or buildings, the CHO report showed.
Overall data indicated that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 17 this year, the city has recorded 794 cases, including three deaths, from only 365 cases in 2023.
Barangays with the top five highest cases include Taculing, with 88; Bata, 79; Villamonte, 61; Estefania, 48; and Mansilingan, 46.
Gensoli said dengue patients have contributed to the increase in hospital admissions, but there is no instruction from the DOH for the city to declare an outbreak.
“Every week, a team from the DOH comes to Bacolod to evaluate and monitor the barangays with high dengue cases,” she added.
As part of the measures to fight dengue, the CHO regularly issues an advisory, conducts fogging or spraying in schools and public places, and distributes larvicides and adulticides.*PNA