Cholera outbreak in Ormoc

Ormoc City – A suspected cholera outbreak already claimed the lives of two children and hospitalized 24 others since Saturday in one Sitio of a mountain village here.

City Health Department chief Dr. Nelita Navales, told The STAR that residents of Sitio Besoria, of the mountain village of Manlilinao, some 20 kms. northwest of the city proper were brought to the Ormoc District Hospital Saturday afternoon after suffering diarrhea and vomiting. Five victims were immediately rushed by their relatives to the said hospital past 9 p.m. Saturday and the number of victims kept rising the following day, Navales said.

Artemio Sanchez, 50, told The STAR he was one of those brought to the said hospital when his relatives noticed that he became so weak. He said he was attending a pre-wedding night in the neighborhood when he suddenly felt a sudden stomach ache.

Navales said they had yet to confirm what caused the outbreak but she believes it is carried by water borne virus. She said they already took stool samples from the victims but they have to wait for the result in the next few days. – Roberto Dejon