CHO reports 13% drop in dengue cases, 5th death

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – Despite a 12.9% decline in dengue cases, the City Health Office (CHO) confirmed a fifth death from the mosquito-borne disease as of Aug. 16.

The latest fatality was a 4-year-old boy from Barangay Villamonte.

According to the CHO, the child developed intermittent fever, abdominal pain and vomiting beginning Aug. 10.

After several days of symptoms, he was brought for medical consultation and was advised to be hospitalized on Aug. 14 due to signs of severe dengue.

He died the following day from dengue shock syndrome.

From Jan. 1 to Aug. 16, Bacolod recorded 743 dengue cases—110 fewer than the 853 reported during the same period last year, which had three fatalities.

Barangay Mansilingan posted the highest number of cases at 78, followed by Taculing with 61; Tangub, 48; Estefania, 47; Vista Alegre, 44; Alijis, 40; Villamonte, 37; Mandalagan, 36; Sum-ag, 32; and Barangay 1, 31, based on CHO data.

Children and teenagers remain the most affected, with pediatric cases making up a significant portion of total infections: 305 cases among children ages 1–10, 201 in the 11–19 age group and 13 cases in infants under one year old.

Of the total, 262 were male and 257 female.

This year’s dengue-related deaths began in February with a 64-year-old man from Barangay Alijis.

A 42-year-old woman from Barangay Mansilingan died in April.

Last month, two more young fatalities were recorded—a 6-year-old girl from Barangay Handumanan and a 5-year-old boy from Vista Alegre.