Baguio: The City Health Office (CHO) is renewing its call for residents to maintain cleanliness in their homes and surroundings to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and prevent dengue. City health officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes emphasized that destroying breeding grounds is the most effective way to ensure larvae do not mature into adult mosquitoes. She noted that clean-up drives must be a year-round commitment rather than a seasonal effort.

According to Philippines News Agency, while the city recorded 141 dengue cases from January to April this year-a significant decrease from the 325 cases reported during the same period last year-Brillantes warned residents not to become complacent. She highlighted that the first rains can trigger a population surge as mosquitoes breed every three days in both natural and artificial water containers.

A dengue alert has already been raised in Barangay Irisan, the city's largest village, following a high entomologic survey of larvae surveillance. Despite it not yet being the rainy season, the barangay has already recorded 12 cases, prompting officials to urge villagers to cooperate in destroying breeding sites.

Brillantes advised the public to monitor for symptoms such as a high fever of 40°C, pounding headaches, eye and joint pains, vomiting, and rashes that typically appear on the seventh day of fever. She recommended seeking medical attention if a fever persists for at least two days to ensure safety.