Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- The Philippine government on Wednesday called on all local officials, from governors down to village chairmen, as well as local health officials to conduct cleanup activities in their respective localities against dengue fever.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo enjoined local officials to conduct search and destroy operations of all potential breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes in their areas of jurisdiction.

Robredo issued the directive amid reports from the Department of Health that dengue cases in the country, from Jan. 1 to July 23, 2011, has reached 38 876, or 25.85 percent lower compared with the 52 428 cases in 2010.