Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Deaths due to dengue rise to 4 By Victor L. Camion
THE dreaded dengue virus killed one more person in Negros Oriental Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to four.
A 13-year-old boy from Manlipac, Bais City succumbed to death around 11:45 a.m. Friday at the Pedia Pavilion of the government-run Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH).
"He's my only son with my deceased husband," said a crying mother, who refused to identify herself.
The victim's mother told Sun.Star that she noticed bloodstain on his son's nose but she thought it was just normal.
She said she never thought it was among the symptoms of dengue fever.
"Sunggohonon man god na siya (He often gets nosebleed)," the mother said.
She also said that her son experienced low and high fever since Tuesday but she only rushed her son to Bais City District Hospital Sunday night and transferred to NOPH in Dumaguete City.
Asked where the boy got the virus, the victim's mother said she has no idea since there were no victims of dengue in their area.
The 13-year-old boy was the fourth dengue victim in Negros Oriental of at least 500 cases in the province as of August 4, 2008, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Dr. Socrates Villamor, Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Pesu), said the second latest victim of dengue was a 10-year-old girl from the municipality of San Jose in Negros Oriental.
The other two victims were a 42-year-old man from Bayawan City and a six-year-old girl from La Libertad.
All victims succumbed to death while being treated at the NOPH on separate dates.
According to investigation conducted by the DOH, the deaths were a result of late referral to doctors.
With this, Villamor advised relatives of possible dengue victims to seek early consultation to the nearest hospital.
He said that although the case is alarming in the province, there is no epidemic status yet, adding that residents must be reminded that proper sanitation is still the most important and effective way to prevent dengue-carrying mosquito.
