Diarrhea death toll in Samar climbs to 19

TACLOBAN CITY, June 8 (PNA) -- Death toll from diarrhea outbreak in Samar provinces rose to 19 this week with 1,456 persons have been ill due to the disease caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit (RESU) received reports on Wednesday morning three new fatalities from the towns of Catarman and Pambujan in Northern Samar. New casualties are children below five years old.

DOH-RESU chief Roderick Boyd Cerro confirmed the diarrhea outbreak in Samar province. These are in Calbiga (215 cases with two deaths), Catbalogan City (204 cases with five deaths) and Sta. Rita (114 cases with three deaths).

The health department has stepped up the monitoring in other areas as more local health workers send report of newly-affected areas this week.

In Samar province, other seriously affected areas are Pinabacdao (19 cases with two deaths), Sta. Margarita (eight cases with one death), Talalora (28 cases with two deaths), Daram (one case with one death).

Diarrhea cases have also been detected in other towns, but no single casualty was recorded. These are in Hilongos, Leyte (316); Jipapad, Eastern Samar (54), Zumarraga, Samar (82); and Basey, Samar (5).

New cases have been reported in Northern Samar towns. These are in Las Navas (208), Gamay (65), Catarman (43), Lavezares (41), San Roque (13), Mondragon (9), Rosario (7), Bobon (6), and San Jose (6).

One case each has been recorded in the towns of Biri, Laoang, Lope de Vega, and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar province.

The youngest casualty is four months old and the oldest is 75 years old, but most victims are children below 10 years old.

Although the diarrhea plague is alarming, the official said that DOH is in control of the situation as they’re able to treat most cases through medication and distribution of aquatabs and chlorine to curb contamination. These supplies are also available in health facilities and rural health units.

“Risk factors of the outbreak are the absence of quality monitoring, low percentage (36 percent) of households with sanitary toilets, and scarcity of water wherein residents have to fetch water from other areas and transport it to their household, in which contaminate could have happened,” Cerro explained.

The DOH official suggested the regular monitoring of water sources and treatment of these when found unsafe for drinking.

The health department highly recommended the health 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.

“It is also important that cases, especially children should be brought for consultation early to avoid dehydration and possible death,” Cerro added.

Diarrhea is characterized by stomach pain, headache, body weakness and watery stools. The worst is dehydration that can cause death. (PNA)

BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO