Gastroenteritis downs hundreds in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY — Health authorities reported here yesterday some 398 cases of acute gastroenteritis in 46 out of 92 barangays in Baybay, Leyte, some 190 kilometers west of this city.

Dr. Margie Olo, Baybay Municipal Health Officer, however, said that the gastroenteritis outbreak has been contained. Thanks to the immediate intervention of health officials as well as the local government of Baybay and the provincial government of Leyte. Proper medications were given to patients brought to different hospitals since May 18.

Dr. Olo also told The Star that cases of acute gastroenteritis were first monitored in Barangay Villamagaso where the water source of the Baybay Water District is located.

She disclosed that 50 children from Barangay Villamagaso were afflicted by the disease characterized by severe diarrhrea and headache. It quickly spread out to another 45 barangays.

Based on initial investigation conducted by health authorities, the source of water of the Baybay Water District was found to have been contaminated.

"These are actually called e-coli bacteria but we still have to determine whether they are from human or animal waste," Dr. Olo said.

Some of the patients afflicted with the disease were sent back to their homes after they were given medicines by doctors at the West Leyte District Hospital. However, there are 78 who are still confined in different government hospitals in Baybay.

Baybay Mayor Carlos Cari, in a separate interview, clarified that the local government of Baybay has no plans to ask the Regional Disaster and Coordinating Council and other line agencies to declare the town under a state of calamity as the outbreak was immediately contained by health authorities.

Cari said that 75 percent of the victims were children whose ages range from zero to four years old.

The mayor had earlier ordered the management of the Baybay Water District to immediately close the main source of water to prevent the spread of the disease to other barangays.