Eastern Visayas diarrhea death toll climbs to 44

PALO, Leyte, June 13 (PNA) -– Death toll from diarrhea outbreak in Eastern Visayas rose to 44 this week with 3,496 persons have been ill due to the disease caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office here reported on Monday.

DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon said the number of casualties continue to rise as local health officials have stepped up monitoring efforts in the bid to contain the illness.

Diarrhea outbreak has been declared in three areas of Samar province. These are in Calbiga (260 cases with two deaths), Catbalogan City (215 cases with eight deaths) and Sta. Rita (329 cases with three deaths).

Other seriously affected areas in Samar are Pinabacdao (73 cases with four deaths), Sta. Margarita (53 cases with one death), Talalora (43 cases with two deaths), Daram (29 cases with one death),

 Basey (203 cases with three deaths), Zumarraga (86 cases with two deaths), Gandara (13 cases with one death), Jiabong (25 cases with one death), San Jorge (53 cases with two deaths), Tarangan (193 cases with one death), and Motiong (one cases with one death)

Cases have been reported in Northern Samar towns as well. These are in Lavezares (227 cases with two deaths), Las Navas (202 cases with two deaths), Catarman (83 cases with two deaths), and San Roque (15 cases with one death).

Other affected areas in Northern Samar (with respective cases) are Silvino Lobos (90), Gamay (69), Biri (61), Laoang (28), Lope de Vega (45), Pambujan (17), Rosario (12), San Jose (11), Mondragon (2), and Bobon (1).

Diarrhea cases also surged in Eastern Samar with confirmed cases have been reported in towns of Guiuan (114), Balangiga (96), and Jipapad (54). Each area has recorded one casualty.

The first outbreak was noted in Hilongos, Leyte with 316 cases, but no single death were reported.

In Tacloban City, the regional capital, the DOH said that a child from the city’s northern village died last week. The city recorded 38 confirmed cases as of Sunday.

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.

“We will continue to monitor until such time that number of cases is reduced to non-alarming level,” Molon added.

The DOH points to water shortage during dry season as the main culprit to the surge of cases. This prompted poor families to get water from unsafe sources such as rivers and streams.

“Other factors are lack of manpower to monitor water quality, unclean water storage containers, and poor sanitation,” Molon said.

International non-government organizations Oxfam, Plan and Red Cross provided water treatment tablets, plastic water containers, and launched massive information drive.

The DOH official suggested the regular monitoring of water sources and treats them 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.

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