Speaking before the Communication and News Exchange Forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Quezon City, Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the agency ‘s Ovitrap is a practical solution to the dengue problem.

Montejo said the DOST’s focus came on the heels of a growing number of dengue cases, particularly in the countryside, where most dengue-carrying mosquitoes breed and victimize individuals who usually either lack the means to protect themselves from deadly mosquito bites, like acquiring mosquito repellants or worse could barely afford hospitalization.

At P10 each, the Ovitrap, made from a black-painted canister containing an organic solution lethal to a mosquito, could lure the insect to enter and lay eggs, thus making it possible to control or eliminate an infestation.

A household, he said, needs only about three to four Ovitraps, while a refill sachet of the organic solution costs P1 each. The solution could last up to 10 days.

According to Montejo, the DOST conducted experiments with positive results in Quezon City and Marikina, and lately, Los Baños in the research and development stage.

He said a total of 2,800 kits are to be distributed by the DOST in 17 regions, prioritizing the ones with high cases of dengue.

Ovitraps are now available at the DOST office in Bicutan, Taguig City, and will soon be available at commercial stores, he said.

Dengue cases in the Philippines last year reached 135,355, exceeding the record-high infection rates in 1998. This year, cases are 7.71 percent lower compared with the same period last year.

The Department of Health’s  National Epidemiology Center  said from January to April this year, there was a total of 17,228 individuals who contracted dengue, 12 cases of which proved fatal.

Metro Manila posted the highest number of dengue cases with a notable increase of 124.93 percent, double of last year’s figure.

(Jonathan L. Mayuga)