TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has declared diarrhea outbreak in the town of Cabucgayan, Biliran after the water-borne disease has downed its 170 residents in the past few days.
The DOH tagged contaminated water as the source of the spread of the disease.
Water samples gathered from various sources, including a water refilling station, were found positive of coliform bacteria, commonly present in human and animal waste.
The local government of Cabucgayan immediately issued a closure order of the water refilling station, said DOH-8 Director Minerva Molon.
At least 21 residents have been admitted in hospitals, with only 11 still in confinement, Molon added.
“The good thing is that the local government has been very active. We really learned a lot from diarrhea outbreak experience in Samar,” she added.
It can be recalled that the recent spate of diarrhea outbreak has killed 81 people and afflicted 9,432 others across the region with most cases were reported in Samar province.
Molon suggested the regular monitoring of water sources by local sanitary inspectors and treat them when found unsafe for drinking.
The health department highly recommended education on the importance of safe and sanitary handling of foods, washing of foods before cooking, washing of hands before preparing foods, cooking foods well, and covering of foods.
Diarrhea is characterized by stomach pain, headache, body weakness and watery stools. The worst is dehydration that can cause death. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)
