3-year-old dies of dengue in Davao City, barangay readies anti-dengue resolution

Dengue has claimed yet another life - this time, that of a bubbly three-year-old girl in Davao City.

 

Relatives are mourning for Myisha Faith Yap who died last May 3, GMA Davao's John Paul Seniel reported Thursday on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."

 

Myisha's relatives believe the girl may have been bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito in her neighborhood, as there were plastic containers that may contain infested water in the area.

 

Health authorities have repeatedly reminded the public to keep their surroundings dry and clean to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding.

 

Barangay records showed two children in the village had died this year from dengue, one of them having died just last month.

 

At least seven more children in the barangay had been diagnosed with dengue.

 

"Biglaan kasi eh. Di mo masabi ... kasi ginawa ang lahat, tapos nawala. Bata pa eh, nakakapanghinayang. Marami pang opportunities na darating sa buhay niya," said the girl's father Domingo Yap Jr.

 

The girl's grandmother said she was brought to a hospital that initially diagnosed her as having typhoid fever and urinary tract infection.

 

She was eventually discharged but when her fever did not subside, she was confined at a hospital again last April 29. She died May 3.

 

"Nalito rin ang duktor kung bakit. Kahit ako ay nagtatanong din sa duktor kung bakit hindi bumaba ang kanyang lagnat... Hindi nila na-detect agad na dengue na pala yun. Kaya nung four days na mula nang i-admit namin siya, doon pa na-detect na may dengue siya. Ang problema, nanghihina na talaga siya," grandmother Micilinda Corneja said.

 

The family, however, has accepted Myisha's fate.

 

"Sa parents, huwag kayong magpakampante pag may lagnat na ang anak ninyo," Domingo Jr. said.

 

A check by the city health office found many residents had plastic containers they used to collect water - a possible breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

 

Residents said their water pressure had been weak, prompting them to use containers to collect water.

 

"Para ma-establish siya, we will create a barangay resolution na dapat mandatory na ang paglilinis ng mga residente kung ano yung mga ipinagbawal na posibleng pamugaran ng mga dengue mosquito," said Barangay Tibungco captain Merjade Calvo.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News