MANILA: The city government of Manila called on village chiefs to intensify clean-up drives in their areas to curb dengue fever amid the rainy season. Mayor Honey Lacuna made the call after receiving reports of 131 dengue cases in the city from July 21 to Aug. 9, which includes 23 confirmed cases and one death. She said the number of dengue cases can be curbed through the village officials' preemptive actions. 'Ang dengue ay sakit na maaring iwasan. Dala ito ng lamok pero naiiwasan kung pananatihing malinis ang paligid (Dengue is a disease that can be prevented. It is carried by mosquitoes but can be prevented if our surroundings are clean)," she added. She likewise advised residents to refrain from leaving water containers uncovered as mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in stagnant water. "Linisin ang mga kanal dahil diyan namumugad ang mga lamok na may dalang dengue (Let's clean our canals are these are breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes)," she added. From Jan. 1 to July 27 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded a total of 128,834 dengue cases, a 33 percent increase from 97,211 cases in the same period in 2023. Source: Philippines News Agency