In Toledo City, Pinamungajan: Over 20 people hit by diarrhea, DOH says
A team from Department of Health in Central Visayas-7 has conducted water sampling in some localities in Cebu to examine the water quality, following the series of flooding incidents in the province.
DOH-7 medical specialist Dr. Joanri Riveral, in yesterday’s Kapihan sa PIA, said that the agency’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) and Health Emergency Management Staff collected water samples from Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Barili, Sogod, Catmon and Borbon.
Riveral said the water quality has to be checked to determine if the flood waters have contaminated the town’s clean or potable water sources.
He added they already alerted the sanitary inspectors of the different municipalities and cities to be wary of water contamination and to intensify its campaign for proper hand washing.
In Toledo City, a 14-year-old child reportedly died of diarrhea. Riveral suspected that the minor may have died due to dehydration caused by diarrhea.
This report, however, remained unverified as of yesterday.
In a separate interview, DOH-7 RESU head Rennan Cimafranca told reporters that of the 20 residents reportedly diagnosed with diarrhea, three were brought to the district hospital in Toledo City while the rest are still under observation.
The youngest victim was two months old, while the oldest is 44.
Cimafranca said the situation is considered as “sporadic,” since these cases are not confined to one barangay only.
Those complaining of diarrhea came from Barangays Poog, Magsaysay Hills, Sangi, Kabituonan, Capitan Claudio, Luray 1 and 2, Matab-ang, Poblacion, Magdugo (Don Climaco), Sagay, Talavera, Bato, Lutopan (Don Andres Soriano) in Toledo City; and Barangay Anapog in Pinamungajan, Cebu.
At present, the DOH-7 is distributing water disinfectants to the different towns in the Cebu Province. (FREEMAN)
- Latest
