The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday launched Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito, its newest campaign drive against dengue.
Led by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, the DOH held an anti-clean up drive in Barangay Batasan Hills on Monday afternoon to combat dengue.
The DOH official also distributed larvicide to residents of Batasan Hills in a bid to stop the dengue cases from surging.
"Ang importante ma-prevent natin na mas marami pang tao ang magkakaroon ng dengue (The most important thing is we could prevent more individuals from getting dengue)," Herbosa said.
"Lalo na ang pangalawang dengue kasi ang dangerous, yan ang pwedeng maging hemorrhagic shock, yan ang mas serious. Kasi pag nagkaroon ka ng unang infection, ang pangalawa o pangatlo ang pwedeng makamatay sayo (Especially having dengue for the second time, it's more dangerous because it can cause a hemorrhagic shock which is more serious. Because when a second or third infection can kill you)," he explained.
Last week, the DOH reported that over 43,000 cases nationwide were logged from January to 15 February.
On 15 February, the local government of Quezon City also declared a dengue outbreak after recording 1,769 cases of the mosquito-borne illness and the deaths of 11 individuals, mostly children.
The DOH noted a "concerning" rise in dengue cases in eight additional local government, including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.