MUS, Cavite - There has been no incidence of malaria in any part of Cavite in the last five years, even as the number of dengue cases has escalated in the province through the years. Sanitary Inspector Annabelle R. Dilig said this Tuesday as the Provincial Health Office (PHO) came out with the "4-S" strategies to prevent dengue and malaria from spreading in communities of this coastal and densely-populated province which is now home to three million people. Malaria and dengue are mosquito-borne disease that can kill people if not treated well. Malaria is caused by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes while dengue the Aedes mosquitoes.
To combat both, Dilig said the strategies are: search and destroy the larvae or breeding grounds of mosquitoes; Self-protection measures, including the use of anti-disease repellants and wearing of long sleeves shirts and pants; seek early consultation, particularly those who have fever and rashes; and say no to indiscriminate fumigation and yes to the proper one. Cavite is a disease-prone area considering its big population and numerous depressed areas. "Well, in Cavite there is no report of malaria cases from 2005 up to the present unlike dengue incidence which are prevalent in the province through the years," Dilig said in the vernacular. Dilig said that although there were reports of six residents who were afflicted by malaria, the cases are considered "imported," meaning that the victims were bitten by the dreaded mosquitoes outside of Cavite although they live in the province.
