An 11-year-old patient of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City is currently under observation by the Department of Health (DOH) since being discharged last week after complaining of a fever and admitting to previously receiving three doses of Dengvaxia, the controversial anti-dengue fever vaccine, between 2016 and 2017.

However, since the patient was previously diagnosed with dengue in 2011, according to vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pastuer, the increased severity of dengue symptoms are only applicable to those who had not previously contracted the disease.

Prior to discharge, the hospital diagnosed the patient with acute tonsillopharyngitis, an infection that affects the pharynx, which connects the nose and mouth; or the tonsils.

Further laboratory tests have since been conducted and the results are currently pending with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, an 11-year-old Dengvaxia recipient died from dengue at the Valenzuela Medical Center last week. The patient’s sister was admitted at the same time, exhibiting similar symptoms of headache and sore throat, however, it is unconfirmed if the sister also has dengue./PLL, WDJ