Harvey boy, 9, dies on family holiday after contracting mosquito-borne virus

A nine-year-old boy from Harvey has died after contracting a mosquito-borne virus while holidaying in South-East Asia.

Glenn Pulgadas was bitten by a mosquito while in the Philippines and contracted dengue fever.

He and his parents were visiting extended family on what was supposed to be a five-week long holiday when he started developing symptoms of the virus.

Two weeks later Glenn died at a hospital in the Philippines on August 25 due to organ failure.

Glenn's parents have lived in Australia for almost five years and work at Harvey Beef, however Glenn will be laid to rest in their home country.

His primary school, St Anne's, in Harvey has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family with medical and funeral costs.

"Glenn was a beautiful year three student at St Anne’s School here in Harvey," the GoFundMe page read.

"As a community we would like to support his Mum and Dad with medical and funeral costs.

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

"Anything you could donate would be greatly appreciated and will be a massive help to his family at this unfortunate time."

The page has raised over $9400 so far.

There have been 150 deaths in the Philippines due to dengue fever between January 1 and May 14, 2022, according to the World Health Organisation.