DOH disputes findings on Malabon water
November 18, 2003 | 12:00am
The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday the method used by the University of the Philippines (UP) in examining the water in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela area (Camanava) was not reliable because proper sample collection procedures might have not been observed.
"The source of the collected water and the collection techniques are unverified," Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said.
Last Saturday, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) released the results of the study of UP’s Natural Sciences and Research Institute which showed that the water in Malabon was contaminated.
The study supposedly showed that the water supply was polluted with human waste. FDC said this was the reason for the ailment afflicting several Malabon residents in the past days.
But according to Dayrit, UP had admitted the water samples tested were provided by the FDC.
"They said that the complaints went there (UP) and asked for test tubes. They were the ones who collected the samples and brought it to UP for testing. That was how it was done. The science behind collection may have been faulty," he added.
Dayrit said there are proper procedures in collecting water samples were apparently not observed.
He maintained that samples should not be taken from one particular area, then later "condemn the entire water system."
"The source of the water samples and the collection techniques are unverified. There are questions on the testing. We can’t say if the proper techniques were observed," he added.
Dr. Billy Goco, epidemiologist of the Malabon Health Office, said the UP findings contradicts the results of the testing they conducted last week on Malabon water.
"We conducted our own testing and we found out that the chlorine content of the water was high. We got the samples from the distribution system and households," he added.
The DOH said yesterday that many Tondo residents are now serving as carriers of gastroenteritis-causing organisms but do not manifest symptoms, confirming their suspicion that the disease is no longer being spread by contaminated water but through person-to-person transmission.
In a press briefing, Dayrit ntoed that while the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Foreshore area of Tondo, Manila has been contained, there are still residents who fall ill because of people who are "asymptomatic," or those who do not exhibit symptoms.
"There are asymptomatic cases which are positive for gastroenteritis-causing bacteria in their stools. The illness is being spread through person-to-person transmission," he said.
DOH record showed that 817 Foreshore residents have been stricken with gastroenteritis since Oct. 23. A total of 29 patients remain confined at the San Lazaro Hospital, Mary Johnston Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo while the death toll is at eight.
Two weeks ago, the DOH found out that the water supply in the area was contaminated with human waste that seeped into the pipes through leaks and illegal connection.
After Maynilad Water Services Inc. increased chlorination of water, repaired leaking pipes and disconnected illegal connections, the DOH said it was expecting cases to go down rapidly but it did not.
According to Dayrit, the DOH would apply "prophylactic" treatment to kill the germs in the body of the "asymptomatic" cases.
He said that anytime this week, the DOH would be distributing anti-biotics to family members and contacts of the patients to prevent the disease from further spreading.
"We’ll be giving out antibiotics to households where there are diarrhea cases. We’ll do it for three days," he added.
Dayrit said that only tetracycline or doxycycline antibiotics are effective in killing the bacteria that causes gastroenteritis.
He reiterated the DOH call for Foreshore residents to observe proper hygiene and sanitation to stop gastroenteritis from spreading.
"They can prevent it from spreading if they will wash their hands especially before they eat and while preparing food. Proper hygiene and sanitation must always be observed," Dayrit said.
Meanwhile, the DOH said that many Tondo residents are now serving as carriers of gastroenteritis-causing organisms but do not manifest symptoms, confirming their suspicion that the disease is no longer being spread by contaminated water but through person-to-person transmission.
In a press briefing, Dayrit noted that while the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Foreshore area of Tondo, Manila has been contained, there are still residents who fall ill because of people who are "asymptomatic," or those who do not exhibit symptoms.
"There are asymptomatic cases which are positive for gastroenteritis-causing bacteria in their stools. The illness is being spread through person-to-person transmission," he said.
DOH record showed that 817 Foreshore residents have been stricken with gastroenteritis since Oct. 23. A total of 29 patients remain confined at the San Lazaro Hospital, Mary Johnston Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo while the death toll is at eight.
Two weeks ago, the DOH found out that the water supply in the area was contaminated with human waste that seeped into the pipes through leaks and illegal connection.
After Maynilad Water Services Inc. increased chlorination of water, repaired leaking pipes and disconnected illegal connections, the DOH said it was expecting cases to go down rapidly but it did not.
According to Dayrit, the DOH would apply "prophylactic" treatment to kill the germs in the body of the "asymptomatic" cases.
He said that anytime this week, the DOH would be distributing anti-biotics to family members and contacts of the patients to prevent the disease from further spreading.
"The source of the collected water and the collection techniques are unverified," Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said.
Last Saturday, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) released the results of the study of UP’s Natural Sciences and Research Institute which showed that the water in Malabon was contaminated.
The study supposedly showed that the water supply was polluted with human waste. FDC said this was the reason for the ailment afflicting several Malabon residents in the past days.
But according to Dayrit, UP had admitted the water samples tested were provided by the FDC.
"They said that the complaints went there (UP) and asked for test tubes. They were the ones who collected the samples and brought it to UP for testing. That was how it was done. The science behind collection may have been faulty," he added.
Dayrit said there are proper procedures in collecting water samples were apparently not observed.
He maintained that samples should not be taken from one particular area, then later "condemn the entire water system."
"The source of the water samples and the collection techniques are unverified. There are questions on the testing. We can’t say if the proper techniques were observed," he added.
Dr. Billy Goco, epidemiologist of the Malabon Health Office, said the UP findings contradicts the results of the testing they conducted last week on Malabon water.
"We conducted our own testing and we found out that the chlorine content of the water was high. We got the samples from the distribution system and households," he added.
In a press briefing, Dayrit ntoed that while the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Foreshore area of Tondo, Manila has been contained, there are still residents who fall ill because of people who are "asymptomatic," or those who do not exhibit symptoms.
"There are asymptomatic cases which are positive for gastroenteritis-causing bacteria in their stools. The illness is being spread through person-to-person transmission," he said.
DOH record showed that 817 Foreshore residents have been stricken with gastroenteritis since Oct. 23. A total of 29 patients remain confined at the San Lazaro Hospital, Mary Johnston Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo while the death toll is at eight.
Two weeks ago, the DOH found out that the water supply in the area was contaminated with human waste that seeped into the pipes through leaks and illegal connection.
After Maynilad Water Services Inc. increased chlorination of water, repaired leaking pipes and disconnected illegal connections, the DOH said it was expecting cases to go down rapidly but it did not.
According to Dayrit, the DOH would apply "prophylactic" treatment to kill the germs in the body of the "asymptomatic" cases.
He said that anytime this week, the DOH would be distributing anti-biotics to family members and contacts of the patients to prevent the disease from further spreading.
"We’ll be giving out antibiotics to households where there are diarrhea cases. We’ll do it for three days," he added.
Dayrit said that only tetracycline or doxycycline antibiotics are effective in killing the bacteria that causes gastroenteritis.
He reiterated the DOH call for Foreshore residents to observe proper hygiene and sanitation to stop gastroenteritis from spreading.
"They can prevent it from spreading if they will wash their hands especially before they eat and while preparing food. Proper hygiene and sanitation must always be observed," Dayrit said.
Meanwhile, the DOH said that many Tondo residents are now serving as carriers of gastroenteritis-causing organisms but do not manifest symptoms, confirming their suspicion that the disease is no longer being spread by contaminated water but through person-to-person transmission.
In a press briefing, Dayrit noted that while the outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Foreshore area of Tondo, Manila has been contained, there are still residents who fall ill because of people who are "asymptomatic," or those who do not exhibit symptoms.
"There are asymptomatic cases which are positive for gastroenteritis-causing bacteria in their stools. The illness is being spread through person-to-person transmission," he said.
DOH record showed that 817 Foreshore residents have been stricken with gastroenteritis since Oct. 23. A total of 29 patients remain confined at the San Lazaro Hospital, Mary Johnston Hospital, Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Ospital ng Tondo while the death toll is at eight.
Two weeks ago, the DOH found out that the water supply in the area was contaminated with human waste that seeped into the pipes through leaks and illegal connection.
After Maynilad Water Services Inc. increased chlorination of water, repaired leaking pipes and disconnected illegal connections, the DOH said it was expecting cases to go down rapidly but it did not.
According to Dayrit, the DOH would apply "prophylactic" treatment to kill the germs in the body of the "asymptomatic" cases.
He said that anytime this week, the DOH would be distributing anti-biotics to family members and contacts of the patients to prevent the disease from further spreading.
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