2,037 cases of diarrhea reported since January

CEBU, Philippines - Health officials reported that a total of 2,037 persons, mostly children, suffered diarrhea in Cebu City from January to July 31 this year, and 14 of them died.

However, Durinda Macasocol, assistant head of the Cebu City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, said the figure is still not considered alarming considering that the city’s population is already close to 800,000.

According to Macasocol, there were 5,251 diarrhea cases in 2009 with 26 recorded deaths, and this went down to 4,682 with 48 casualties the following year. The figure continued to slide down to 4,371 in 2011 with 37 deaths and 2,037 during the first seven months of this year.

“Dili pa kini maisip nga alarming apan nagsigi na kami og himo’g information campaign sa kabarangayan nga likayan gayud ang mga hugaw nga pagkaon,” Macasocol told The FREEMAN.

The barangays with the highest number of diarrhea cases are Guadalupe, 180; Talamban, 103; Mambaling, 92; Tisa, 89; Labangon, 81; Punta Princesa, 77; Inayawan, 73; Mabolo, 72; and Bacayan and Basak-San Nicolas with 67 cases each.

Dr. Alma Corpin, head of the field operations section of the Cebu City Health department, said they provided those who suffered diarrhea with oral rehydration solution to prevent them from dehydration and death.

Corpin said those who got diarrhea usually got it from unsafe food and drinks which are sold by vendors, particularly those that are just in sidewalks.

Aside from diarrhea, unsafe foods can also cause Hepatitis A.

The statistics showed that in 2009, there were 51 cases of hepatitis A recorded by the City Health department and two of the victims died.

Hepatitis A cases in 2010 went down to 25 with one death, but it went up again to 56 in 2011, although there was only one casualty reported. From January until July 31, this year there were already 15 recorded Hepatitis A cases, but no death reported.     - THE FREEMAN