CITY Health Office (CHO) Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said there are two possible causes for the diarrhea outbreak in Toril – food poisoning or water contamination.
Over the weekend, there were reports on social media of a diarrhea outbreak in Toril and some areas in the southern portion of Davao City. Lopez confirmed the outbreak on July 17.
According to CHO, the areas with reported diarrhea outbreaks are Brgy. Bato, Toril Proper, Crossing Bayabas, Lubogan, Mulig, Daliaon Plantation, and Tungkalan, which are part of Toril A, and Daliao North, Daliao South, Lizada Fish Port, Lizada Curvada, and Binugao, which are part of Toril B.
“Pwede sa tubig, contaminated water, which was brought about by the expected na tag-ulan. Naa ta’y cases from areas with continuous flooding (It can be from contaminated water which was brought about by the rains. We have cases from areas with continuous flooding),” Lopez said on July 18.
Lopez said the Davao City Water District (DCWD) has already done water sampling and is also waiting for the official result.
“This was reported yesterday by one of our sanitary inspectors nga naa daw nagapamaligya og street food, tapioca gani, which could also be related to the use of water along the streets of Toril, which can also be a possible source of infection (this was reported yesterday by one of the sanitary inspectors that some are selling street food, tapioca, which could also be related to the use of water along the streets of Toril and can also be the possible source of infection),” he said.
In response, CHO has ordered the closure of street food stalls in the affected areas on Sunday, July 17, 2022 until such time the health office can make confirmation based on tests conducted.
“Temporarily amo sang gipa-undangang pagbaligya aning mga pagkaon o mga street food because it could be a possible source of infection and nagkuha na pud me og sampling ani gahapon sa SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) for analysis (We have ordered the temporary suspension of the selling of street food in the area because it could possibly the source of infection. We also got samples from SPMC to be tested)” Lopez said during an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on July 18, 2022.
As of 11:14 a.m., Lopez said there are already 45 cases of diarrhea in Toril. However, Lopez said if it’s water contamination they are expecting more than a hundred to thousand cases.
Based on the initial set of results, Lopez said there is one confirmed case of amoebiasis.
He said the admission began on July 15 and spiked on July 16, prompting the Sanitary Inspectors and District Surveillance Officers (DSO) to conduct investigations in Toril areas.
Meanwhile, DCWD on Sunday assured its customers that its water sources are safe.
The public is also advised to boil their water before drinking it.
“If we can use mineral or bottled water mas maayo, so that ma-guarantee nato ang safety nato (Better, they drink mineral or bottled water for now to guarantee their safety), because we are highly presuming na ang cause sa diarrhea outbreak diha, is tungod sa tubig (the cause of the diarrhea outbreak in the area is water),” Lopez said.
Lopez said that for further inquiries, residents can go to incident command centers which are the District Health Centers of Toril A and Toril B. For Toril B the district health center is located in front of Magsaysay Elementary School, while for Toril A, the district health center is located at Toril Proper at the back of Chowking.
“The main health centers in Toril A and Toril B were now open as incident command centers headed by our district officer so kung naa mo’y pangutana, naa mo’y mga issues and concerns, kung naa mo’y symptoms na related sa kalibanga pwede mo muadto diretso sa atong pinakaduol nga district health center. (The main health centers in Toril A and Toril B are now open as incident command centers headed by our district officers. If you have questions, if you have issues and concerns and if you have symptoms related to diarrhea you can go to your nearest district health center),” Lopez said.
For concerns, the public may contact 09302702823.
Meanwhile, Lopez added that based on the instruction of Mayor Baste Duterte, they have coordinated with Lingap Para sa Mahirap for assistance in the hospitalization of indigent individuals.
“The City Government of Davao is ready and open for any assistance to citizens affected by the diarrhea outbreak,” Lopez said. KSD with CIO