By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the deaths of five people in Bacolod City’s Barangay 14 between December and January, the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) yesterday clarified the recent deaths were not measles-related.

CHO Environment and Sanitary Division head, Dr. Grace Tan, said the deaths included four minors and one adult male.

She explained, based on records, a two-month-old baby passed away due to gastroenteritis, or inflammation to the stomach and intestines; while a one-year-old minor die due to hydrocephalus, when excess fluid builds up in the brain.

The CHO official also pointed out, pneumonia was the cause of death for the three-year-old minor and a 15-year-old died from heart failure.

In terms of the trisikad driver who recently passed away, they are still verifying the cause of death.

According to CHO records, there were a total of 254 suspected measles cases in Bacolod City last year, 38 of which were confirmed cases.

They also recorded the measles-related death of a 17-year-old girl in 2018./DGB, WDJ