By CESAR JOLITO III

A four-year-old boy became the fifth fatality due to dengue in Bacolod City this year, the City Health Office (CHO) said, despite infections dropping by nearly 13 percent compared to last year.

CHO said the victim, a resident of Barangay Villamonte, developed fever, abdominal pain and vomiting beginning on August 10.

He was brought to a doctor after four days of persistent symptoms and was diagnosed with severe dengue.

Despite hospital admission on August 14, he succumbed to dengue shock syndrome the following day, the CHO confirmed.

From January 1 to August 16, Bacolod has logged 743 dengue cases, lower than the 853 cases and three deaths reported in the same period last year.

But while cases are trending downward, fatalities have already risen to five this year.

Most of the patients are children and teenagers, with 519 pediatric cases recorded.

The CHO said 305 cases were among children aged one to 10, while 201 involved patients between 11 and 19 years old.

Thirteen cases were also reported in infants under one year old.

Barangay Mansilingan topped the list of affected areas with 78 cases, followed by Taculing with 61, Tangub with 48, Estefania with 47, and Vista Alegre with 44.

Earlier fatalities this year included a 64-year-old man from Alijis in February, a 42-year-old woman from Mansilingan in April, and two children in July — a six-year-old girl from Handumanan and a five-year-old boy from Vista Alegre./CJ, WDJ