THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 has declared a diarrhea outbreak on an island barangay in Daanbantayan town, Cebu.
Health officials recorded about 101 cases of people who fell ill due to the contaminated water sources in Barangay Carnaza.
“The patients were vomiting and complained of loose bowel movement,” Provincial Health Office (PHO) Chief Dr. Rene Catan told reporters yesterday.
Health officials also confirmed that the residents’ primary water supply is from the village’s eight shallow dug wells that tested positive for fecal coliform.
Personnel from the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit conducted an investigation from Feb. 2 to 14, 2017 after receiving reports on the upsurge of diarrhea cases in Barangay Carnaza.
Of the 101 patients, about 14 people were admitted to the rural health units and the Daanbantayan District Hospital.
The patients vomited and suffered abdominal cramps, watery stools, and fever after drinking water from their open wells and water supply from the neighboring Leyte province.
After conducting the investigation, the health officials recommended to officials of Barangay Carnaza to close their water sources to make them free from exposure to outside elements.
The patients were given medicines, fluids and a chlorinator for their respective household.
Village officials are urged to put up perimeter fence in all water sources, regular chlorination of water sources and monitoring of water systems, among others.
The Daanbantayan municipal health officials were also asked to regularly check on their water sources for bacteria.
The town health officials should also conduct a regular check-up on residual chlorine level in the community and to intensify campaign on the treatment, prevention, and control of diarrhea diseases and personal hygiene among households.
Although the cases have not yet reached a critical level, Catan, the IPHO chief, said that apart from the “band-aid solutions,” the Provincial Government is working to improve water systems in other villages.
He said Capitol is inviting investors to help them upgrade or replace old pipes in some villages.