3 die, 194 down with diarrhea in Misamis Oriental

AT LEAST three children died while 194 people were hospitalized from diarrhea in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental, which prompted the provincial health office to declare an outbreak.

Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Ignacio Moreno said an outbreak was declared in the town because of the unusual number of cases since the disease was first reported a week ago.

“But as of now, ok na,” Moreno told Sun.Star.

Those who died from diarrhea were nine-month-old Prince Hermoso of Barangay Poblacion; one-year-old Jenikalyn Camiquin, and six-month-old Shaira Malonggayan, both from Barangay Katipunan in Villanueva town.

Moreno said he was confused as to the cause of the diarrhea since water samples taken from various sources in the town showed negative from bacteria, based on the portable bacteriological laboratory (PBL) result.

But he said they have already initiated chlorination of the water in the area and distributed chlorine and waterine to residents.

Moreno said sanitary inspectors from the PHO are still conducting random water sampling in households.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health Northern Mindanao had conducted rectal swab of the patients to determine the exact cause of diarrhea.

“Negative man sa bacteria ang water so possible nga viral in nature lang gyud,” Moreno said.

With this, he advised the residents to boil their water for 10 minutes before drinking to make sure that water-borne bacteria are killed.