Zamboanga City - - Mayor Celso Lobregat has reiterated appeal for barangay officials to initiate massive clean up activities in their areas of jurisdiction and undertake other measures to prevent the outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever, a mosquito borne disease prevalent during the months of July to September.

This, as City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos the other day reported that dengue fever have claimed at least four lives during the first 6 months of the year.

A total of 30 cases have been registered during the first two weeks of June while May registered a total of 118 cases of dengue fever.

“We appeal to our barangay officials and residents to concentrate on cleanliness and sanitation so we can prevent the increase in the cases of dengue and avert the declaration of an outbreak”, the mayor said in his Saturday television show Adelante Zamboanga aired over TV 11 where he discussed about health issues and concerns with Dr. Agbulos, Councilor Lilia Nuno and Philhealth Zamboanga Services Office chief Nadzmier Sajili as guests.

Lobregat said while the city government, through Agbulos’ City Health Office is undertaking all measures, the cooperation and support of the barangay officials and most especially the residents, is most important.

Dr. Agbulos reported that cases of dengue fever are expected to soar from July to September, considered as rainy season “but in our case, we have increasing cases of dengue during the first six months of the year”.

Before the cases would even soar, the City Health Officer said, mitigating measures should be undertaken the soonest possible time.

In 2008, mortality due to dengue fever reached 9 cases but for this year, four cases were already reported from January to June, Agbulos said, adding that the CHO is intensifying campaign against dengue as it also concentrates on the prevention and control of the A (H1N1), which has been declared to be a pandemic case by the World Health Organization.

Both Lobregat and Agbulos agreed that cleanliness and sanitation are the chief measures necessary to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

Dengue fever is a disease caused by one of a number of viruses that are carried by mosquitoes. These mosquitoes then transmit the virus to humans. The virus that causes dengue fever is called an arbovirus, which stands for arthropod-borne virus. Mosquitoes are a type of arthropod.

Dengue fever manifests as a sudden onset of a severe headache, muscle and joint pains, fever and rashes.

Meanwhile, Agbulos said the city government in coordination with other agencies concerned is also intensifying efforts to avert the entry of A (H1N1) virus, previously known as swine flu, a respiratory disease that is caused by type A (H1N1) influenza viruses that originally were traced to pigs and then mutated into a strain that is a combination of pig, avian and human strains of influenza viruses. (Sheila Covarrubias)