AFTER Barangay Alijis, Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City was placed under cholera outbreak by the local health office yesterday, November 23.

This, after two dug wells in the area were tested positive for vibrio cholerae bacteria based on the result of the water sampling conducted by Bacolod City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (BCESU) for Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

The City Health Office (CHO), in its advisory signed by its officer-in-charge, Dr. Grace Tan, stated that these wells are located at Purok Luhodluhod and at Purok Ipil-Ipil.

Tan said there have been two positive cases of cholera infection at Purok Luhodluhod.

She said cholera is caused by ingesting water or food that has been contaminated by the cholera bacterium, causing the infected person to suffer from severe diarrhea and vomiting.

“Pursuant to the provision of Section 7 of Republic Act 11332, it is the recommendation of the CHO for the declaration of a cholera outbreak at Barangay Mandalagan,” she added.

CHO records showed that from September 1 to November 12 this year, Bacolod City has a total of 21 confirmed cholera cases.

Tan said that all patients had already recovered.

She said the sanitation inspectors were also deployed in different barangays for the disinfection and chlorination of dug and artesian wells.

Tan advised the public to get water for drinking only from refilling stations with updated bacteriological monitoring.*