CLEANUP DRIVE VS. DENGUE. Community health workers of Barangay La Suerte in M'lang town, North Cotabato inspect households on Thursday (June 9, 2022) for any breeding site of mosquitoes as part of the campaign against dengue. At least 1,664 individuals were infected with dengue while 17 others died from the virus since January this year in the Soccsksargen region. (Photo courtesy of DOH-Soccsksargen) GENERAL SANTOS CITY - At least 1,664 individuals were infected with dengue while 17 others died from the mosquito-borne disease in the Soccsksargen region since January this year, the regional health office reported Thursday. Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, head of the Department of Health-Soccsksargen (DOH-12) epidemiology and surveillance unit, said their record on dengue cases covers the January 1 to May 21 period. DOH-12 data showed that North Cotabato got the highest number of reported dengue cases with 694 which comprised 42 percent of the total cases in the region. Dengue fatalities mostly came from General Santos City with seven, equivalent to 41 percent of the number of deaths so far. Parayao reminded the residents to practice the "4S" strategy against dengue following a continuing increase in the number of cases in the region. "Dengue is an acute viral infection that affects mostly children and infants, we must protect them. We must protect our families," she said in an interview. The four "S" campaign stands for: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent; Seek early consultation, and Support fogging or spraying in hotspot areas where an increase in cases for two weeks registered to prevent an impending outbreak. "We are experiencing rain at night, so we have to destroy the breeding sites of mosquitoes," Parayao added. Dengue virus is spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on its legs and a pattern in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax. The most common symptoms of dengue fever are nausea, vomiting, rashes, aches, and pain such as eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain. (PNA) }