Dengue case in Talisay City: DOH guidelines sought on how to handle victim

CEBU, Philippines — The Talisay City government will ask the Department of Health for guidelines on the proper handling of the 10-year-old boy who was vaccinated with Dengvaxia in August and is now confined for dengue infection.

Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, chairman of the committee on health, said that Mayor Eduardo Gullas ordered the city administrator office to write a letter to DOH on this matter.

He also urged parents to immediately visit the rural health center if they notice that children are having fever so they can undergo laboratory tests to check if they are infected with the dengue virus.

There are three health centers in Talisay City located in barangays Poblacion, Lawaan 3 and Lagtang.

Yesterday morning, the city's anti-dengue task force together with city health doctors went to Barangay Lawaan for inspection.

The 10-year-old boy, Jujen Ababon, who is now confined in a private hospital for dengue, is a resident of Sitio Kaduldulan, Lawaan 3.

Records revealed that in Talisay City, there are 5,279 children aged 9 to 14 who were given Dengvaxia.

Aznar said they are closely monitoring these children.  However, they have no data on the number of children who have history of dengue.

Sanofi Pasteur, the maker of Dengvaxia, recently issued an advisory that the vaccine may cause severe dengue infection if administered to children who have no history of dengue.

Last Wednesday, Ababon was brought to Talisay District Hospital for fever and nosebleed but he was referred to a private hospital.

Aznar said the boy is now in stable condition.

The city government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office will extend P10,000 financial assistance to the family.

Meanwhile,  Lawaan 3 Barangay Captain Delia Ybañez urged constituents to take precautionary measures by cleaning their surroundings.  (FREEMAN)