Davao diarrhea outbreak: 2 dead

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Two persons have died due to a diarrhea outbreak in 12 barangays in Toril district in this city.

City health office (CHO) head Dr. Ashley Lopez confirmed that a 67-year-old resident of Barangay Batolusa died while being treated at the Viacrusis Hospital on Tuesday.

He said a 10-year-old also succumbed to the disease on the same day.

Latest tally showed that there were 212 diarrhea cases in the city.

As of 8 p.m. last Tuesday, 147 cases were reported compared to 61 on Monday. The patients are between three months and 69 years old.

Sixty-four of the patients were hospitalized.

“Pending results of laboratory tests, the city government suspended the operations of food stalls in Toril district until further notice,” Lopez said, adding that the city social welfare and development office would address the needs of vendors while their stores are closed.

Some of the patients said they fell ill after eating street food.

Vendors underwent fecalysis starting on Wednesday while a seminar on food handling was set yesterday.

Lopez said the CHO is waiting for the results of water analysis as well as testing of samples of street food and specimens from patients.

“The CHO continues to monitor the situation and assures the public that the medical needs of the patients are being addressed accordingly,” he said.