More typhoid cases reported in Borbon

CEBU, Philippines - An increase of suspected typhoid cases was noted over the weekend in the town of Borbon, northern Cebu where an outbreak is currently being addressed.

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health in Central Visayas yesterday recorded a total of 87 cases. This number increased from Friday’s 82 patients.

However, RESU-7 chief Rennan Cimafranca noted a down-trending reporting of cases especially that no admissions have been reported with the additional cases.

Cimafranca added that no more admissions were noted from Barangays  Lugo, Clavera, and Cajel. The DOH is also planning to tap the barangay health workers to help it identify and report cases in order to get updates straight from the affected communities.

The recent purchase of chlorinator also pleased the RESU chief saying this will help address the water contamination especially in Lugo where the other affected barangays get their source of water.

Prior to the purchase, the municipality employed  an improvised chlorinator using a pail which health officials said, has to be improved.

Based on investigation by health authorities, with Cimafranca personally leading the inspection team that went to Borbon last week, water source fecal coliform contamination caused the typhoid outbreak in the northern Cebu town.

A typhoid fever outbreak was declared by RESU last week after residents of three barangays in Borbon fell ill.

Blood specimen from suspected and clinically-diagnosed typhoid patients were obtained last week and no results have arrived yet from Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila. —/FPL (FREEMAN)