DOH-7 confirms ‘mild typhoid outbreak’

CEBU, Philippines - A top regional health official has declared a ‘minor typhoid outbreak’ in Tuburan town and urged local authorities and residents to adopt proper hygiene and secure the water sources.

Department of Health-7 director Jaime Bernadas said the Regional Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit has confirmed the outbreak via descriptive epidemiological study in sitio Birhen Sa Regla, Barangay Monte Alegre.

“Duna na ni syay gitawag na ni nga minor outbreak didto sa maong sitio. Kinahanglan ning matutukan. Thus, atong gipabalik didto ang atong team. Aron matutukan gyud maayo ang sitwasyon. Ang ato man gud didtong water system dili kaayo developed,” Bernadas revealed.

He, however, stressed that the situation is already under control with the health offices and local government unit working hand in hand to help find concrete solution to the recurring typhoid spread in the town.

“Dili lang ta angay nga mabalaka kay isolated cases sa usa ka area man ni. Ang importante, ato ng na improve ang situation, nagsugod na ta’g treat ug na educate nato ang lumulupyo unsa ka importante ang ensakto ug limpyo nga intake and discharge,” Bernadas said.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office said that there were no more cases of suspected typhoid fever reported in Tuburan yesterday.

IPHO medical specialist, Dr. Manuel Purog, said that seven of the nine persons admitted at Tuburan District Hospital with typhoid fever symptoms have already been discharged while the remaining two are being monitored.

“Total admitted sa Tuburan District Hospital is nine, discharged na ang seven. Remaining two patients na lang. Sa Rural Health Unit, number of cases is twenty seven (27), but outpatients ni sila. Karon wa nay laing case. Wa nay reported (case),” he told reporters.

As a long-term solution to prevent water and food borne diseases from harming Tuburanons, the DOH-7 will push for the inclusion of Tuburan in the water facility improvement project of the government.

“Our priority is to recommend to the local government unit to develop the spring serving as water source. Atong himoan ug very strong recommendation sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) nga maapil ang Tuburan sa maong assistance to develop the water system. This is also for all problematic areas nga ga balik-balik na ang kaso sa typhoid,” he explained.

In a report submitted by RESU chief Rennan Cimafranca to Bernadas, water bacteriology profiling showed that sitio Birhen Sa Regla improved spring tested positive for fecal coliform while four out of five patients tested positive for typhidot.

“An outbreak of Typhoid Fever occurred in Tuburan, Cebu. The sudden upsurge in the number of cases relates to a common source of exposure...In this outbreak, the most likely vehicle was the drinking water coming from the improved spring. Fecal contaminants had been introduced into the water system. Only 30 percent of the total households in Brgy. Monte Alegre have sanitary toilets. The condition of the water source put the system vulnerable to water contamination and the absence of water treatment (chlorination) contributed to the problem,” Cimmafranca’s report read.

Verification of reported cases also confirmed 39 patients to have suffered from typhoid fever for the period February 28 to March 7 where 19 were confined to Tuburan District Hospital while 20 others went to the Rural Health Unit or health center but were not referred for confinement.

Two rectal swab samples were also sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for confirmatory laboratory results.

Most of the patients were aged 10 to 20 years old, composing 40 percent, with symptoms including sustained fever, headache, malaise, anorexia, relative bradycardia, constipation or diarrhea, and non-productive cough.

DOH-7 has turned over to Tuburan local health officials 40 kilos of calcium hyclorite (clorine), lifestraw (filter and disinfectant tube), and medicines (paracetamol, ceftriazone, cotri, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole).  (FREEMAN)