A 7-year-old boy from Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, succumbed to dengue, or H-fever, on February 3 at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

Paolo Larobis Casilagan is the first reported dengue victim in the city this year.

Bacolod City Health and Sanitation head Dr. Salome Biñas said the victim had been suffering from fever for four days already when brought by his family to the hospital because they thought he was just suffering from flu. Medical records showed that the child suffered from dengue shock syndrome.

Biñas said during an inspection behind the house of the victim's family, they discovered several old tires which she believes has become breeding places of mosquitoes.

She said the total reported dengue cases in Bacolod as of January is 30.

Records at the City Health Office showed 610 cases of dengue in Bacolod in 2006, which is lower compared to the 909 cases, in 2005. However, there were 5 dengue related deaths in 2006 and only three in 2005.

Meanwhile, Biñas is reminding the barangays to keep their surroundings clean by conducting clean-up drives and rid their areas of possible breeding places of mosquitoes such as used tires, empty bottles, and to keep water containers covered at all times.

She said the CHO continues to conduct information dissemination in the different barangays, as well as, distribute leaflets to educate the public about dengue.

Biñas said they also conduct fogging operations in barangays with cases of dengue. She also advised the public to sprinkle salt on stagnant waters to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.*CGS

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