A five-year-old boy has become the fourth patient to die from dengue hemorrhagic fever in Bacolod City from January 2025 to July 2025, according to the City Health Office (CHO).
John Aaron Galan succumbed to dengue hemorrhagic fever on July 27, 2025.
According to the boy’s grandmother, Rose Galan, John Aaron fell ill on July 21, 2025. He was taken to a medical facility for a check-up, but was sent home after.
However, on July 24, 2025, the boy complained of shortness of breath. He was rushed to the hospital where he spent reportedly three days at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). John Aaron expired at the hospital on July 27, 2025.
His family described John Aaron to be jolly, talented, and a loving child. His death is difficult to accept, Rose said.
"Super sakit, super talaga. Hindi na mawawala sa isipan namin. Hindi namin alam kung dito o sa paaralan,” Rose added.
Over 10 cases of dengue were reported in Purok Abada Escay in Barangay Vista Alegre in July 2025. Most of the patients were reportedly of minor ages.
“May isang na-ICU na nakalabas na. Meron kaming mino-monitor ngayon, apat, lima. May dalawa pang makapatid. May case kami sa dulo, at sa kabila,” according to Cheryl Lavega, barangay health worker of Vista Alegre.
According to the CHO, dengue cases in Bacolod City reached 631 from January 2025 to July 2025, posting 67.8 percent higher compared to the same period in 2024 with 376.
“We forgot na ang mga lamok has become pests na nakatira sa collected na tubig sa loob at labas ng ating bahay. Bakit maraming lamok? It means merong breeding ground,” Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO-Environmental and Sanitation Division, said.
Meanwhile, the Province of Iloilo logged 3,462 dengue cases from January 2025 to July 2025, observed to be lower than the 3,783 cases recorded in the same period in 2024. Most of the patients were children ages one year old to nine years old.
“Ang mga barangay na may clustering of cases umabot sa 73 barangays which is six (6) percent higher compared sa 69 lang na barangays noong nakaraang linggo,” Dr. Rodney Labis, chief of the Health Service Delivery Division of Iloilo PHO, said.
