Probe on Aklan dengue deaths

KALIBO, Aklan — The Aklan Provincial Health Office (PHO) has started an investigation on the death of 20 people from dengue this year.

“We will be conducting investigation to study why many dengue victims died in the hospital within 24 hours of confinement,” Dr. Conelio Cuachon, provincial health officer 2, said Sunday.

Cuachon said the delay in medical care for the fatalities will be among the focus of the investigation the Department of Health (DoH) ordered.

Delays in seeking medical care, transport to the hospital and giving of medical attention by hospital staff to the fatalities will also be looked into.

“Results of the investigation will be used in the prevention of more dengue deaths in the future,” said Cuachon.

Based on the record of the PHO, there were 4,679 cases of dengue in the province from January to 24 August.

On Saturday, 30 August, a construction worker from Boracay was the 20th recorded fatality of dengue in the province, The victim was identified as Arnold Tenorio, 34, and a resident of Barangay Mina-a in Ibajay.

Meanwhile, the youngest dengue victim who died was 10 months old.