A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl from Barangay Biasong is the latest person to die of dengue in Talisay City since January this year, a local health official said.
Dr. Lino Alanzado, head of the Talisay City Health Office, has urged the public to observe precautionary measures to prevent more dengue cases or deaths from occurring again.
Alanzado told reporters that during an interview with the girl’s mother, they had learned that it took some time before the girl was brought to the hospital for treatment.
“Pag-interview namo sa mother kanang dili lang sad siya sure kon dengue na ba to kay naghilanat ra og kadiyot, unya mokaon sad ang bata. By the time nga nadala siya sa district hospital, luya na gyud ang bata,” Alanzado said.
(When we interviewed the mother, she was not sure if it was dengue because the child only had fever for a while and had not lost her appetite. By the time she was taken to the hospital, she was already weak.)
“Medyo ulahi lang gyud ang bata nga nadala sa ospital mao nang wala na gyud natabang,” he added.
(It was already late when she was brought to the hospital, that’s why her state could not be helped anymore).
Still high
Alanzado said the dengue cases in the city are still high based on their monitoring.
From Jan. 1 to July 2 of this year, Talisay City has 394 cases with four deaths, according to the data provided by the Talisay City Health Office.
To prevent more cases and deaths from happening, Alanzado said he and his personnel have been continuously reminding the city’s 22 barangays and their constituents to implement measures such as eradicating mosquito breeding grounds and regularly cleaning their surroundings.
Alanzado added that they have been conducting fogging operations across the city, especially in areas where dengue cases are prevalent.
Alanzado also advised parents to immediately bring their children to a nearby medical facility if their fever last two or more days.
Dengue cases in PH still rising
In the national level, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that dengue cases continue to rise in all parts of the country, with the numbers almost doubling those of last year.
Data show that as of July 9, there were already a total of 73,909 dengue cases reported nationwide.
“This is cumulatively 96 percent higher compared to the reported cases during the same period last year, which is around 37,000 cases,” said DOH Deputy Spokesperson Dr. Beverly Ho in a virtual press briefing.
She said most of the cases reported came from Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and the National Capital Region.
Ho said there were also 299 dengue deaths reported all over the country, as of July 9.
In a bid to help stop the continued surge in dengue cases, the DOH urged the public anew to practice the “4S” strategy.
The 4S stands for Search and Destroy breeding places; Secure self-protection; Seek early consultation; and Support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas.
“Let us not allow mosquitoes win this rainy season by preventing dengue from happening,” said Ho. (BBT, TPM / TPT )