By JEN BAYLON
The death toll from dengue in Bacolod City has risen to three, the City Health Office (CHO) said, as they recorded another fatality from the disease.
Data from the CHO showed the latest dengue fatality was an 11-year-old girl, a resident of Barangay 16, who died on August 9.
Two other residents died from dengue this year — an 18-year-old woman from Barangay Estefania, who died on July 24, and a 68-year-old man from Barangay Felisa, who passed away on July 30, data showed.
The CHO recorded a total of 602 dengue cases from January 1 to August 10 of this year.
This is 73.5 percent higher than the 347 cases recorded in the same period in 2023.
Barangay Taculing has the highest number of dengue cases with 77, followed by Barangay Bata with 62.
Other villages with the highest number of cases include Villamonte with 43, Estefania and Mansilingan with 37 each, as well as Cabug and Granada with 33 each.
Dengue cases have also been reported in Barangay Alijis, Mandalagan, Banago, Sum-ag, Tangub, and Singcang.
The CHO urges the public to remain vigilant and adhere to health protocols to prevent further escalation of the situation.
The Department of Health encourages the public to observe the 4S strategy to combat dengue, which stands for: search and destroy breeding areas; self-protection; say yes to fogging and indoor residual spraying in areas where cases are increasing; and seek early medical consultation if the fever persists for two days.
Furthermore, residents should also clean their surroundings regularly, eliminate possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes, wear long pants and sleeved shirts, and use mosquito repellants.
Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, and causes a severe flu-like illness that can sometimes be fatal.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees Celsius) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea/vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness./JB, WDJ