BUST BREEDING GROUNDS: Public Urged to Remove Stagnant Water to Stop Dengue

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) has urged residents to eliminate stagnant water in their surroundings to prevent the breeding of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, especially with the onset of the rainy season.

Dr. Jane Reygine Ansino-Hortinela of the CHO’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said stagnant water remains the main contributor to the continued rise in dengue cases in some barangays.

“Most of these places actually have basins that can store water. Any amount of water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, even just a bottle cap,” she said.

She explained that mosquitoes can live up to 30 days, and if infected with the dengue virus, they can transmit the disease throughout their lifespan.

She also warned that mosquitoes can travel up to 300 meters from their breeding sites, making it difficult to contain the spread of dengue once it starts.

“Even if there’s only one area with dengue, there is a big possibility that it can spread to everyone in the vicinity,” she added.

Ansino-Hortinela emphasized that barangay officials and households must eliminate breeding sites by removing standing water in containers, tires, flower pots, and other items that collect rainwater.

She said cleanliness should be the top priority since fogging and misting operations are only carried out after a dengue case has been confirmed.

“If they don’t clean, and we only do misting, mosquitoes will still thrive outside their homes,” she said.

She added that it is “not economically practical” to mist every barangay because of limited city resources.

“At the end of the day, our primary strategy is prevention through cleaning,” she said.

The CHO also cited logistical challenges in its dengue control operations, including a lack of transportation that delays misting in affected areas.

As of June 14, Iloilo City recorded 238 dengue cases—an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.

The city also reported one dengue-related death this year. The fatality, recorded in February, involved a 45-year-old male who died of a heart attack but later tested positive for dengue.

Jaro II recorded the highest number of dengue cases among city districts with 47, followed by Arevalo (42), Molo (40), Jaro I (31), City Proper (27), Mandurriao (26), La Paz (21), and Lapuz (4).

At the barangay level, MV Hechanova and Tabuc Suba in Jaro had the most cases, with 11 and 10, respectively.

Clustering of cases was also observed in Barangays South San Jose and Tabuc Suba.

With the start of the rainy season, the CHO expects dengue cases to peak in July or August.