|
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Malaria alert up in Surallah
HEALTH personnel in South Cotabato are closely watching at least two villages in Surallah town due to a reported outbreak of the mosquito-borne malaria that downed at least nine persons last month.
Dr. Edgardo Sandig, South Cotabato health officer, said the provincial health office deployed its malaria team to Barangays Talahik and Upper Sepaka to help contain the disease and treat the affected residents.
"The (outbreak) may have been triggered by the continuous rains in these areas the past several weeks," Sandig said.
Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease borne by a parasite.
Humans get malaria from the bite of a malaria-infected mosquito.
Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.
Jaime Piconcillo, municipal malaria coordinator, said most of the victims were B'laan and Manobo tribal residents.
According to Piconcillo, at least 48 residents last month were also stricken with malaria in the same villages.
Early in 2005, a similar outbreak was reported in Barangays Talahik and Upper Sepaka of the same town, located near Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu.
Based on provincial health office's monitoring, some of the malaria cases were traced to have come from communities in nearby Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat where malaria is considered to be more endemic than in South Cotabato.
Sandig said the malaria team is currently conducting a regular monitoring of the incidence of malaria in the affected villages to prevent it from further spreading.
"The best preventive measure against malaria is to contain the breeding areas of mosquitoes," Sandig said.
The provincial health office recorded over 300 malaria cases since January or an increase of about 20 percent compared to last year. (Allen V. Estabillo)
(January 2, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
