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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Diarrhea downs 50 villagers
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- At least 50 persons, mostly children, were stricken with diarrhea after drinking from a contaminated water source on a remote village in Zamboanga City, local health officials said Tuesday.
Officials said the victims were rushed to hospitals after drinking contaminated water in Labuan village.
Health workers were sent to the village to investigate the cause of the contamination. Although there were no reports of death, health workers urged the villagers to boil their water before drinking it.
"We urged the residents in Labuan to always boil their drinking water and this is very important," said Dr Rodelyn Agbulos, local health officer.
Many of those stricken with diarrhea were given first aid and sent home, but some still remain in the hospitals, although their condition is not life threatening.
Diarrhoea is a condition in which the victim has frequent and watery or loose bowel movements. It is usually accompanied by abdominal pain, and often nausea and vomiting.
It is most commonly caused by myriad viral infections, but also often the result of bacterial toxins and sometimes even infection.
In 2001, more than 700 people, mostly children, were hospitalized because of a diarrhea outbreak in the city that followed rumors that its water supply had been poisoned. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(August 24, 2005 issue)
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