Dengue claims two kids in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines -  Two children in Balamban town are the latest casualties of dengue in Cebu, according to health authorities. 

Balamban also has the second highest number of dengue cases in the province from January to May this year. 

Cynthia Genosolango, Provincial Health Office  head, confirmed that a boy from the town’s Barangay Aliwanay and a girl from Barangay Pondol succumbed to dengue fever last month. Both the victims were 7 years old.

A team from the PHO was sent to the town to check the schools of the two children. It is set to release updates on its report on Monday.

Genosolango said misting operations are usually conducted in an area where a dengue case is reported.

“Our immediate reaction is go out to that area, do some surveillance and misting activity,” she told reporters.

She added that despite the wet season when there is normally an increase of dengue cases, there has been no report of a significant hike in the number of cases in the province.

In a record from PHO, around 400 cases of dengue were reported from January to May this year, a drop from the 1,749 number of cases in the same period last year. A total of 3,584 cases were recorded for the whole 2013.

From January to May this year, Carcar City has the highest number of dengue cases in the province with 48 cases, followed by Balamban with 41 and Minglanilla, 39.

The disease can be acquired from mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), which usually breed in stagnant rainwater.

SYMPTOMS

OF DENGUE

• high fever that could last until two to seven days

• pain behind the eyes and in the joints, muscles, and bones

• rashes over most parts of the body,

• severe headache • mild bleeding from the nose or gums. (FREEMAN)