The Department of Health sent an epidemiological team to Sipalay City yesterday to step up efforts to control the rise in dengue fever cases there, while more antibiotics were sent to Pulupandan town as a precautionary measure against meningococcemia, Dr. Luisa Efren, Provincial Health Officer, said.

Concern was raised over dengue in Sipalay after an upsurge of cases in the city. In the last four weeks 92 dengue cases were reported in Sipalay compared to 42 from January to May.

Figures from the Provincial Health Office show 707 dengue cases recorded in Negros Occidental this year, with most of them in Bacolod City at 364.

Meanwhile, Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña said calm has settled in Barangay Utod in his town following a meningoccemia scare.

He said antibiotics were still being distributed to more than 1,000 residents of the barangay to take as a precautionary measure after a suspected death from meningococcemia Monday.

Two-month-old Roma Jane Sim of Barangay Utod died at the Bago City Hospital Monday but there is no confirmation that the baby died of meningococcemia, Efren said.

That is because the blood sample taken from the child was not properly preserved so it cannot be used to determine the cause of death, she said.

The most devastating form of meningococcemia is fulminant meningococcemia which consists of hemorrhagic rashes drop in blood pressure and circulating shock leading to death, a Department of Health advisory said.

"Infection is spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat which contain the bacteria. Although meningococcal bacteria are common, they are extremely delicate outside of the body and are not very contagious," the advisory also said.*CPG

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