Typhoid outbreak "under control"

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health 7 (DOH) has reported a decrease in the number of admitted patients with typhoid fever in the municipality of Alegria, but has not lifted yet its declaration of outbreak.

DOH 7 Director Dr. Susana Madarieta said a team stayed in Alegria to conduct a house-to-house campaign and provide some antibiotics and intravenous (IV) fluids.

Madarieta said there were some 750 typhoid cases in the municipality since the start of the outbreak. But as of yesterday, the number of consultation per day was decreasing.

Dr. Christina Giango of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (Ipho) said there were only four admissions yesterday compared to the previous days, wherein the number of patients reached up to 40 per day.

Giango said the case is now under control but they are still monitoring the place and that they are not putting their guard down.

“Usually ang force anang typhoid kay mga two weeks, unya og ma-treated na mawala ra after two weeks and could even last up to one month na madugay ang iya force that is why we are still expecting nga naa pa gihapun mga fever cases didto although they are being treated na,” Madarieta said.

The local government unit plans to rehabilitate the water system in Alegria. But until the government gives a signal that the water is now safe to use, Madarieta said people must boil their water or chlorinate them, or drink from bottled water.

The reports in the number of casualties varied. The chief of the Malabuyoc District Hospital reported that there were only 30 patients left and that there were four casualties, but Giango said she received only two reports of typhoid-related deaths. They have yet to confirm another death yesterday in a mountainous part of Alegria.

The Ipho has been reminding the public every year for the regular monitoring of their water systems and to practice basic sanitation. Giango said the water source must be protected and secured and that there should be no activities within 25 meters from the water source that could cause contamination.

It was on December 5, 2010 when the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) received information from Cebu Provincial Epidemics and Surveillance Unit (PESU) about the increasing number of cases in Alegria two weeks after the heavy rains.

A total of 724 patients were examined and 250 were admitted in the hospital from November 1 to December 16, 2010 with ages ranging from 1-59 years.

The most common signs and symptoms seen from the patients were fever, headache, malaise or uneasiness, anorexia and diarrhea.

Alegria is a fifth-class town located 117 kilometers south of Cebu City. It has nine barangays but the highest number of cases was in Poblacion and Sta. Felomina. — (THE FREEMAN)