State of calamity due to dengue in Tuguegarao

By Freddie Lazaro

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — Local officials placed this city under a state of calamity last week following their declaration of a dengue outbreak due to the sudden rise in dengue fever cases in the past two months, here.

The city council declared a dengue outbreak based on the recommendation of Tuguegarao City Health Officer James Guzman who reported 323 dengue fever cases with one fatality from January to August 31 this year.

Guzman said he recommended the declaration of a dengue outbreak to permit the city officials to allocate the necessary resources for the massive eradication of dengue-causing mosquitoes.

Parts of their initiatives are the reactivation of the anti-dengue barangay brigades and the enactment of a memo by Mayor Delfin Ting calling all local government workers to practice the 4 o’clock habit of cleaning and the emptying water settlements such as vases and basins.

Guzman said those organized barangay dengue brigades will be tasked to ensure cleanliness and sanitation in their villages to prevent dengue fever and spread of dengue disease causing mosquitoes.