10 new diarrhea cases recorded in Danao City

CEBU, Philippines – Ten new cases of diarrhea were admitted at the Danao General Hospital yesterday as health authorities continue to try to stop the spread of the disease in the northern city.

Of the ten, only two patients came from barangays where an outbreak of diarrhea has been declared. They came from barangay Tabok.

The eight others were from mountain barangays.

Dr. Cristina Giango, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, said that although there were ten new patients yesterday, the number of patients admitted has decreased.

Giango said that Barangay Health Workers are now doing house to house checks in barangays Tabok, Taytay and Cambanay to check if the people have complied with the instructions given by health authorities to curb the spread of diarrhea.

AN outbreak has been declared in the three barangays where most of the cases come from.

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas has recommended the rehabilitation of Danao City's water source, after initial water sampling results revealed fecal contamination.

Health officials discovered that the residents in barangay Tabok are using only an improvised tube that releases chlorine into the water distribution pipe.

It was also noted that most of the patients admitted at the hospital were children.

Three children reportedly died because of diarrhea, but health officials said that they are still trying to check the information.

Initial examination conducted by the health officials in Danao City confirmed that fecal bacteria was found in water samples collected from a spring in one of three barangays affected by the diarrhea outbreak.

Danao City Health Officer, Dr. Jose Arturo Allego said that water samples from barangay Tabok were contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria, also known as E. coli.

E. coli bacteria are the most frequent causes of diarrhea and intestinal infections, and their presence in water indicates the presence of fecal waste.

Allego said health officials are investigating a river in barangay Tabok where garbage was said to have been dumped.

Giango said they advised residents in the affected barangays to continue disinfecting and boiling their drinking water.

They also advised the city health office to put notices and visual aids on the proper boiling of water, hand washing and promoting good hygiene to the populace.

The Danao City Council will hold a session today and they are expected to approve a resolution declaring barangays Tabok, Cambanay and Taytay as calamity areas.

Yesterday, the Cebu Provincial Councilors League headed by Danao City Councilor Ivy Durano-Meca distributed diapers, bottled water and packed lunch to the patients at the Danao General Hospital.

The office of 5th District Rep. Ramon 'Red' Durano VI, provincial board members Agnes Magpale and Jude Sybico are also helping provide for the needs of the patients. (FREEMAN)