Francisco M.

Soberano III
August 31, 2010

BSN3C

News clipping of Mortality

Dengue claims 5 deaths in Negros

THE number of dengue cases and fatalities in Negros Oriental continues to

increase with the death of another victim Tuesday.

Althea Louie Cabugnason, 5, grade 1 pupil of Pamplona Central Elementary School,

succumbed to dengue at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) Tuesday
dawn, said Dr. Felix Sy, chief of the government-run hospital.

Cabugnason was the fifth casualty of dengue fever since January this year. Records
from the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health in
Negros Oriental showed that from January to August this year, a total of 504 dengue
cases with five deaths were already recorded.

This alarmed the health officials in Negros Oriental, but Sy said the dengue cases
this year is 66 percent less than the 762 cases with three deaths recorded last year.

Dr. Socrates Villamor, chief of Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, told

Sun.Star that they are expecting more cases this year since rainy season has just
started.

Sy said NOPH, at present, has an average of 100 patients with dengue fever.

Health officials are calling on the public to improve their vigilance and exert more
efforts to contain the rise of dengue cases in the province.

The towns of Guihulngan and Vallehermoso and the city of Canlaon are under the
watch list of the Department of Health, following the significant increase in cases
admitted to three hospitals in Dumaguete City.

Majority of the cases, however, among the top five areas were from Dumaguete
City with 104 cases, followed by Sibulan with 63 cases, Bayawan City with 43 cases,
Tanjay City with 39 cases and Bais City with 31 cases.
 Meanwhile, Dr. Edgardo Barredo, chief of the Provincial Health Office-Field
Health Services, told reporters that he requested mayors to direct health officers in
their areas to implement the 4S campaign against dengue which means search-and-
destroy breeding grounds of mosquitoes, self protection by using mosquito netting
and insect repellant, saying no to indiscriminate fogging as it does not guarantee
total protection against mosquitoes, and seeking early consultation as soon as
symptoms develop.
Meanwhile, Althea's parents blamed the attending physician for the death of their
only daughter.

Annelyn Cabugnason, in an exclusive interview with Sun.Star, said the attending

physician allegedly failed to identify the real status of her daughter.

She identified the attending physician as Doctor Ana Marie Yap, a pediatrician of a
government run Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.

Cabugnason accused that Dr. Yap told them that their daughter has a simple hyper
acidity that alarmed them because of dengue-like symptoms-high grade fever,
headache and stomach ache.

Only know from another physician that her daughter died with dengue following the
declined of blood platelets, she said.

Cabugnason through Representative George Arnaiz is asking for immediate

investigation.

Sun.Star tried to get in touch of Dr. Yap but she could not reach for comment.
Hospital Chief, Dr. Felix Sy, in a separate interview, said based on his initial
investigation, the patient was properly monitored by her attending physician.

Evidence show, he said, that a complete chart with constant monitoring of blood
platelets.

Sy already talked the Cabugnason couple to explain of what had happened. But
Althea's father Louie is planning to pursue to file their complaint before the office of
Rep. Arnaiz for investigation.

Dr. Sy said he understand the feelings of Althea's parents since she was the only
daughter(Victor L. Camion)