Western Australian, Harvey, boy Glenn Pulgadas died from dengue fever in the Philippines

Tragedy as a nine-year-old Australian boy dies from a mosquito bite while on holiday with his family

Western Australian boy Glenn Pulgadas, aged nine, died while in the Philippines
He was bitten by a mosquito and contracted dengue fever while visiting family
Glenn first started showing symptoms on August 12 and died last Thursday
Hospital records show he was ‘weak in appearance’ and suffered organ failure
His small WA town, Harvey, has raised over $9,000 to help cover medical costs

By Ashley Nickel For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:34 BST, 31 August 2022 | Updated: 01:27 BST, 31 August 2022

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A nine-year-old Western Australian boy died after he was bitten by a mosquito while holidaying with his family.

Glenn Pulgadas died from dengue fever last Thursday, just two weeks into his family’s five-week holiday to see extended family in the Philippines.

The ‘bright and bubbly’ little boy first started showing symptoms of dengue fever on August 12 after being bitten by a mosquito and contracting the virus.

Nine-year-old Western Australian boy Glenn Pulgadas (above) died from dengue fever last Thursday while visiting while family in the Philippines

Medical records show by the time Glenn reached Madonna and Child Hospital, in Cagayan de Oro, he was ‘weak in appearance’, had a high fever, headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting and nose bleeds, reports ABC.

Glenn was treated in the hospital’s ICU but sadly passed after suffering dengue shock syndrome and acute organ failure on August 25.

His family have lived in the small WA town of Harvey, 140km south of Perth, for about five years.

Glenn (pictured with his father, also named Glenn) suffered from dengue shock syndrome and acute organ failure while being treated in Madonna and Child Hospital’s ICU

He was part of the Year Three class at the local Catholic primary school, St Anne’s.

School leaders have set up a GoFundMe to help the family cover the costs of Glenn’s medical bills and funeral, which will be held in the Philippines.

‘Glenn was a beautiful year three student at St Anne’s School here in Harvey,’ the fundraiser caption reads.

‘Glenn was a bright, bubbly, young boy who was so full of life and always had a smile on his face.’

At age five, Glenn dreamt of becoming a police officer, but later changed his mind and told people he wanted to be a builder.

Glen (pictured with his father and mother Ryza) was described as a ‘bright and bubbly’ boy

The page has already raised over $9,000, including a $1,000 donation from the school’s Parents and Friends Committee.

The Harvey community has also hosted a series of events including raffles, hair cutting and basketball games to raise more money for the family.

‘For all the support they showed us — physically, emotionally, spiritually and the financial support — no words can explain how much we appreciate it, and thank you is not enough,’ Glenn’s mother, Ryza, told ABC.

Dengue fever is not normally present in Australia but occasional outbreaks have been recorded in Queensland from people who arrived from overseas with the virus in their blood.