ILOILO – From 11, the number of persons here who died of dengue rose to 13.
The most recent deaths were girls – a 13-year-old from Alimodian town and a 16-year-old from Guimbal, data from the Provincial Health Office showed.
Also, 205 new dengue cases were recorded from July 16 to July 23 (Morbidity Week 29), bringing Iloilo’s cases to 1,417 since Jan. 1 of this year.
“Please let us not take dengue for granted. Search and destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes. If you have high-grade fever seek early treatment,” said Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares – Quiñon, provincial health officer.
The 11 previous dengue fatalities were the following:
* seven-year-old boy from Barotac Nuevo
* 88-year-old womn from Dingle
* four-year-old girl from Dumangas
* seven-year-old boy from Guimbal
* 10-year—old girl from Guimbal
* 17-year-old boy from Igbaras
* 24-year-old woman from Leganes
* less than one-year-old boy from Miag-ao
* 18-year-old girl from Miag-ao
* 16-year-old boy from Passi City
* one-year-old boy from Santa Barbara
Do not delay seeking medical help. According to the Department of Health (DOH), this is the most common reason for dengue fatalities in Western Visayas.
“Usually pila na ka adlaw nga nagamasakit, nga nagahilanat before sila magpakonsulta. Abi nila trangkaso lang,” said Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, head of DOH Region 6’s Integrated Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Program Sector.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could be fatal if not managed well. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti) that breed in lean, stagnant water.
Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms during the febrile phase (2-7 days): severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash./PN
