• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution requesting the City Health Office through Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to intensify the campaign against Japanese Encephalitis in the City of Bacolod, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
The resolution authored by Councilor Claudio Puentevella said that according to the Department of Health (DOH), Japanese Encephalitis is a viral disease caused by Flavivirus, a large group of viruses that are spread most commonly by mosquitoes.
The virus affects the central nervous system and causes severe complications, and even death.
On June 20, the DOH Western Visayas CHD released a report that a total of 256 suspected cases of Acute Meningitis Encephalitis Syndrome were logged in Region VI from January 1 to May 27.
These suspected cases underwent laboratory confirmation, 10 of the samples came from Bacolod City, and are still waiting for further laboratory confirmation, it said.
The resolution said Japanese Encephalitis is transmitted to individuals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most individuals exposed and infected experience mild to severe symptoms.
Intensified campaign against Japanese Encephalitis can be achieved by destroying breeding grounds of mosquitoes, maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings; de-clogging of canals, waterways and drainage, in order to mitigate and prevent the spread of the disease, it added.*
