TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PNA) –- The Department of
Health (DOH) has declared a diarrhea outbreak in a village in Almagro, Samar
after the water-borne disease downed 40 residents over the past two weeks.
DOH Eastern Visayas regional epidemiology and
surveillance unit chief Roderick Boyd Cerro said local health officials traced
the plague to the contamination of a dug well, a major source of drinking water
in Panjobjoban II, a farming and fishing village in Almagro town.
“About 33 residents were confined at the Calbayog
District Hospital since October 5 for suffering symptoms of diarrhea. The rest
underwent treatment at the rural health unit,” Cerro said. The village has 100
households.
The district hospital is the nearest health
facility to the island town of Almagro. The only means of access to Almagro is
by motorboat from the port of Calbayog City, taking usually up to two hours of
travel.
“The water source is just near the residential area
and canal. The contamination is very obvious even without laboratory tests
confirmation,” Cerro added.
The local government has already ordered the
closure of the water source. The health department has provided oral
rehydration solution for affected residents and jerry cans for proper water
storage.
Massive information drive on diarrhea prevention
has been launched in Almagro town
Diarrhea is characterized by stomach pain,
headache, body weakness and watery stools. The worst is dehydration that can
cause death.
From April to July this year, diarrhea outbreak in
different part of Eastern Visayas has killed 81 people and afflicted 9,432
others. (PNA)
LAP/SQM
LAP/SQM
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