2 more children die of dengue

CEBU, Philippines - Two more children died of dengue in barangays Tejero and Talamban bringing to 38 the total number of casualties in Cebu City from January to November this year.

Four-year-old Eden Nick Ceraste of Villagonzalo Street, barangay Tejero was brought by her parents to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center last November 23 due to high fever, but she died the following day.

Meanwhile, seven-month-old Joy Nicole Mijares of barangay Talamban died just moments after she was rushed to the North General Hospital after experiencing high fever. 

Despite the two additional deaths, Durinda Macasocol, assistant chief of the City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, said the 38 casualties of dengue from January to November this year is very much lower compared to 51 casualties during the same period last year.

Statistics showed that the dengue situation last year was worst compared to the scenario year. There were but 1,114 dengue cases from January to November 30 last year, but the casualties reached 51.

This year, the total number of cases reached 1,968 for the past 11 months.

The city’s health officials continue to encourage Cebu City residents to avail of the free laboratory check-up if they will experience high fever to find out whether they have been afflicted with dengue.

Once the doctors will recommend that the patients need to be confined in hospital, the city will provide them free drugs and medicines during the period of confinement. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)