Another boy dies of dengue

CEBU, Philippines - A three-year-old boy from barangay Buhisan died of dengue last Sunday, making him the 31st fatality of the dreaded dengue virus in Cebu City since January.

The child was brought by his parents to the Cebu City Medical Center last Saturday after he experienced severe fever for the past few days. He died the following day.

Durinda Macasocol, assistant chief of the Cebu City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, advised parents to quickly bring their sick children to the hospital once they experience fever.

“Ang nakadaut gud kay ang ubang ginikanan modala lang sa doctor sa ilang anak nga gihilantan kon grabe na kaayo ang kahimtang,” she said.

Although there were already 31 dengue-related deaths recorded in Cebu City alone from January, this figure is still comparatively lower compared to the 43 deaths for the same period last year.

While there are less deaths during the first nine months this year, there are more dengue cases compared to the same period in 2008.

Macasocol said statistics place dengue infection at two persons for every 1,000 people in Cebu City.

The barangays that have dengue-related fatalities are three each from Kamputhaw and Labangon; two each from Guadalupe, Tisa, Lorega-San Miguel, Carreta, Apas and Mambaling; and one each from barangays Bacayan, Talamban, Basak-San Nicolas, Lahug, Luz, Punta Princesa, Inayawan, Pardo, Banilad, Day-as, Buhisan, Sudlon II and Binaliw.

The public are encouraged to help fight against the mosquito-borne disease by eliminating all breeding sites of mosquitoes in their respective areas. – Rene U. Borromeo/BRP