By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A three-year-old girl from Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City was the latest recorded dengue fever fatality in the city after recently succumbing to the virus at a local hospital.
Dr. Grace Tan, Environmental Sanitation Division Chief of Bacolod City Health Office (CHO), identified the fatality as Ednairen Lubrico, who died on August 5, three days after it was discovered she had contracted the illness.
According to Tan, Lubrico is the seventh dengue-related fatality in Bacolod City this year.
Based on the most recent CHO records, accounting from January to August this year, there have been 786 dengue cases recorded in the city; 18.5 percent higher compared to the 662 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Tan noted, in 2016, the rise in dengue cases started in July, while, this year, the increase has been apparent since January.
The CHO official reminded locals to continue cleaning their surroundings and immediately seek medical assistance whenever somebody in their family has fever.
“We should not wait for the patient to become weak,” Tan said. “Bring them to the hospital to avoid death from dengue.”/WDJ