By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A child from Negros Occidental was the first recorded dengue fatality in Western Visayas (WV) for 2023, based on a report released from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (DOH-6).

According to DOH-6, the patient was a seven-year-old girl, who passed away due to dengue last January 21.

DOH-6 also reports that the province has the highest number of dengue cases in the region with 93, after recording an additional 23 cases.

Aklan was second on the list with 57, and Iloilo province with 54.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City has 30 with an additional seven new cases.

In total, there are 326 dengue cases in the entire region.

Dengue causes a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal.

Patients should suspect dengue when a high fever is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, nausea/vomiting, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, swollen glands, and rashes, according to the World Health Organization.

For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, blood in vomit, bleeding gums, fatigue, and restlessness.

Dengue is spread by the aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes./DGB, WDJ