DOST turns over OL traps in Antique schools to fight dengue

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

Monday 6th of August 2012

SAN JOSE, Antique, Aug 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has turned over mosquito Ovicidal and Larvicidal (OL) traps in all elementary and high schools in Antique.

Developed by the DOST, the distribution of OL trap is in line with the government’s campaign in addressing the country’s dengue problem.

Engr. Eleazar Moscoso of DOST-Antique said DOST has distributed some 5,000 OL trap for Antique received by Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Angelita Ragodo, district supervisors of the 18 towns of the province and principals of all secondary schools.

The OL trap will be placed in all classrooms, school canteens and libraries of 460 schools province-wide, said Moscoso.

Moscoso said the mosquito OL trap has three important parts: a black container, a small strip of lawanit measuring 1x6.5 inches for mosquito to lay their eggs on and a larvicide solution to kill the mosquito larvae that will hatch in the strip of wood and in the solution.

The scent of the solution invites female mosquitoes to the trap where they lay eggs on the stick and on the solution itself. The stick moistened by the solution through capillary action is highly attractive for mosquito to lay eggs on.

As the eggs and the hatch larvae get exposed to the solution they die. The trap does not kill the adult mosquitoes, instead its ovicidal and larvicidal effect prevent the next generation of mosquitoes from reaching adulthood.

Moscoso likewise said an orientation on how this OL trap be set-up in their respective locations were already given to concerned Department of Education officials.

With the OL traps, “we hope to curb the population of aedes mosquitoes which cause dengue virus that victimized thousands mostly children,” Moscoso said. (JCM/PSM-PIA6 Antique)