Two residents of Bacolod City recently died of dengue, raising the number of dengue-related deaths to five this year.

Records from the Bacolod City Health showed that Helen Panes, 66, of Brgy. Villamonte and Warlito Doromal, 54, of Brgy. Estefania were the latest victims of dengue in Bacolod.

As of July 1. 2006 there were 120 reported cases of dengue in Bacolod, compared to 321 reported cases this year, records showed. Total dengue-related deaths for the whole 2006 was five, it said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia had earlier said that he has always believed that prevention is always better than cure and reminded the people that "One basic thing we should remember is to always clean our environment and this needs the full cooperation of everybody."

He said the city will purchase two additional fogging machines to be used in the anti-dengue campaign.

City Health Officer Dr. Edgardo Estrella said the CHO has long been campaigning against dengue and he has already tasked Environmental and Sanitation head Dr. Salome Biñas to urge the barangay captains in the different barangays to activate their Iwas Dengue Barangay Brigades.

He also reminded the public to observe the four oclock habit of cleaning their surroundings in order to eliminate possible breeding places of mosquitoes that are carriers of the disease.

Estrella said he is also encouraging the public to seek early treatment if a patient is running a fever. He said the CHO also offers free platelet counts upon the recommendation of a doctor.

Findings show that one of the causes for the increase in the number of dengue cases is global warming, he said, adding that the campaign against dengue will be an ongoing activity of the CHO.*CGS

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