Villar warns of danger in ‘tuko’ trading 07/31/2011

Villar warns of danger in ‘tuko’ trading

07/31/2011
Sen. Manny Villar yesterday expressed apprehension over the hunting of geckos which he said will allow dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes to multiply, hurting the government campaign to control the fatal disease.

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, said the reported massive trading of geckos, locally known as “tuko,” poses a threat to the population of this type of reptile that feeds on insects such as mosquitoes.

“Recent reports stating the rise in hunting and selling of these reptiles because of their high cost in the international wildlife market coincide with the rise in the number of dengue patients now being monitored by the Department of Health,” Villar said.

Data from the latest Disease Surveillance Report of the DoH-National Epidemiology Center from the period January-June 2011 estimated dengue cases nationwide at 27,000..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110731met4.html