Pinamungajan residents told: Visit nearest health facility

CEBU, Philippines - Following a reported typhoid outbreak in Pinamungajan town where two people have died, the Provincial Health Office has advised individuals developing symptoms of the disease to immediately seek medical interventions from the nearest health facility.

Provincial Health Office chief Cynthia Genosolango made the reminder after her office learned that the two fatalities in Pinamungajan had experienced symptoms of typhoid a month ago but did not seek consultation.

In a text message sent to The FREEMAN, Genosolango said that one of the fatalities, Marivic Macalipay, 16, started to experience the symptoms on January 18 but died only on February 18 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Macalipay’s relative, Eduardo Caniban, 27, on the other hand, was reported to have been experiencing the symptoms since January 22 but died at home on February 22.

Pinamungajan municipal health officer Sheila Faciol earlier said Caniban was told to stay at Dr. Jose Maria V. Borromeo Memorial District Hospital for further observation and treatment but insisted to go home. Both fatalities were from Purok Nangka, Barangay Camugao in Pinamungajan.

Genosolango said the PHO has yet to get the confirmatory test although the two fatalities clinically showed symptoms of typhoid fever, which later led to complications.

Typhoid fever is a foodborne or waterborne disease caused by bacterium called Salmonella typhi. Symptoms of this illness include high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Genosolango said her office is getting information from the rural health unit of Pinamungajan, as well as the affected barangay health station, as to why the cases were unnoticed then.

“Kay wala man makamatikod atong community health team. We have very functional health team sa Pinamungajan,” she said. —(FREEMAN)