Myla Borromeo, officer of the Records Section of the Talisay City District Hospital, said that although the number of gastroenteritis cases in the city from January to September this year is lower compared to that of last year, health officials raised the alert for prevention purposes.
Compared to last year's 1,651 cases of gastroenteritis, this year's figure reached 1,056. There are, however, no reported casualties yet this year.
Borromeo urged residents to boil water, especially those that are from shallow wells, or chlorinate the water used in households in urbanized communities.
She said that the best way to avoid water-borne diseases like acute gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, cholera and hepatitis A is to drink clean and safe water. - Garry B. Lao