Mabolo boy latest casualty of dengue

CEBU, Philippines - The total number of dengue deaths in Cebu City since January has reached 32 following the death of a 7-year-old boy in barangay Mabolo last Monday, health officials announced yesterday.

The boy died at the Perpetual Soccour Hospital three days after he was brought there by his parents due to high fever.

According to Durinda Macasocol, statistics and surveillance officer at the Cebu City Health Department, the 32 deaths from January to October 12 are still comparatively lower compared to 49 in the same period last year.

However, more dengue cases were recorded this year than in 2008. During the first nine months in 2008, there were only 1,039 cases than the 1,460 cases recorded in the same period this year.

Macasocol said most of those affected by dengue are males with age ranging from five months to 80 years old.

Among the city’s 80 barangays, Guadalupe, Camputhaw, Basak-San Nicolas, Lahug, Talamban, Labangon and Tisa have the most number of dengue cases.

Camputhaw and Labangon have each three casualties while Guadalupe, Tisa, Lorega-San Miguel, Caretta, Apas and Mambaling have two each.

Bacayan, Talamban, Basak-San Nicolas, Lahug, Luz, Punta Princesa, Inayawan, Pardo, Banilad, Day-as, Mabolo, Buhisan, Sudlon II and Binaliw have each one dengue death. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM   (FREEMAN NEWS)