Thursday, June 12, 2008 Diarrhea kills 4 in Asturias town
A CONTAMINATED water source was blamed for the death of four persons and illness of 14 others in Sitio Asyutis, Barangay Tagamakan, Asturias, Cebu.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said the four suffered severe dehydration, vomiting and abdominal pains due to diarrhea.
But Dr.Cristina Giango, IPHO chief, said they have yet to identify the four victims.
Sun.Star Cebu learned that one of the casualties was Tagamakan Barangay Councilor Rodelio Leyson. He died of diarrhea last June 9.
Giango said the casualties aged 30 to 50. The first two deaths were recorded in May while two others died this month.
IPHO confirmed that Tubod Spring, an open water source in Sitio Asyutis, Barangay Tagamakan caused the deaths.
The Province and the town health officials have yet to release the results of their examination on contaminated water.
Giango said her staff conducted household chlorination in the barangay to prevent similar incident from occurring.
Assistance
She said they also reminded residents in the area to boil their drinking water before using.
For his part, Mayor Allan Adlawan said his office provided assistance to the victims.
Adlawan also said he advised the residents in the area to observe proper sanitation particularly in their drinking water.
Last April, one person died while 15 others were hospitalized after falling ill to typhoid fever in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Asturias.
The lone fatality was identified as Catalino Candidisimo, 50, a resident of the barangay.
Adlawan had said a contaminated water system also caused the typhoid fever cases in the village.
Contamination
Adlawan said municipal health workers tested water from one faucet of Sta. Lucia Water Works System Association and found it positive of the typhoid-causing bacterium salmonella typhosa.
In October 2005, Borbon, Cebu was placed under a state of calamity when more than 160 persons were suspected of having the disease.
A Department of Health advisory indicated that typhoid fever is spread through the ingestion of food and water contaminated with human waste.
The advisory said symptoms of the disease include sustained high fever, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation and abdominal discomfort.
To prevent typhoid fever, DOH recommends:
l Boiling water for drinking. Upon reaching the boiling point, extend boiling for two or more minutes or use chlorine.
1 Cook food well and always use food covers to prevent flies and other insects from contaminating them.
1 Wash thoroughly all vegetables and fruits especially those that are eaten raw.
1 Avoid eating street vended food.
1 Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating.
1 Keep surroundings clean to prevent breeding of flies. (GMD)
