By JEN BAYLON

Two infants died due to illnesses while staying inside evacuation centers in Negros Occidental’s La Castellana town amid the ongoing unrest of Kanlaon Volcano.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan said a nine-month-old boy from Barangay Cabagnaan died from pneumonia after being evacuated with his family following the volcano’s eruption last month.

Pinongan said the child had been experiencing a cough and intermittent fever for five days before he was referred for further treatment.

However, municipal health officials found that the boy was severely dehydrated just one hour before his transfer to Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela town.

He succumbed to septic shock caused by sepsis, secondary to community-acquired pneumonia, on January 25.

Pinongan said another nine-month-old boy from Barangay Masulog died on Christmas Day due to acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration.

Reports indicate that the child was the only one among 41 other children at the evacuation center experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz described the earlier death as an “isolated case,” emphasizing that health services and purified water are provided daily to evacuees.

Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, regional director of the Department of Health in Negros Island Region, noted that many evacuees are suffering from coughs and colds, which has prompted an increase in medical support in the evacuation centers./JB, WDJ