THREE persons died of suspected dengue in Bacolod City from January to June this year, said Dr. Grace Tan, City Health Office (CHO)-Environmental Sanitation Division head.
Tan said the fatalities were the two-year-old girl from Barangay Granada who died on June 24 at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital; the 13-year-old boy from Barangay Tangub who died on June 4; and the 13-year-old girl from Barangay Handumanan who died on January 23.
She said the three victims suffered fever for almost two days and were rushed to the hospitals.
CHO records showed that from January to June, Bacolod has a total of 477 dengue cases, which increased by 65 percent compared to last year’s 289 cases with three deaths.
Of 477 cases, Barangay Estefania posted the highest number of cases with 56.
Others included Barangays Tangub with 35 cases; Pahanocoy and Taculing, 31 each; Granada, 30; Handumanan and Mansilingan, 28 each; Alijis, 27; Mandalagan, 25; Villamonte, 23; Singcang-Airport, 22; Bata, 21; Sum-ag, 18; and Banago, 16.
Tan said the two most prominent species that transmit viruses are Aedes aegypti mosquito, which stays inside the house; and Aedes albopictus mosquito, which stays outside, transmit the viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, among others.
“We should practice the ‘4S’ in households and surroundings to prevent and control dengue,” she said.
It means to search and destroy mosquito breeding place, use self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.
“We need to eradicate and destroy all breeding and nesting places of mosquitoes to prevent dengue. We should clean our environment,” Tan said. (MAP)