THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) reported that diarrhea outbreaks in Toril have more than doubled to 147 as of July 20 from 61 as of July 19.
Affected barangays have also increased to 19 with Barangay Alambre, Bankas Heights, Daliaon Plantation, Eden, Marapangi, Sirawan, and Baliok added to the list.
In an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio on July 20, CHO Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said investigation is still ongoing and results from the water analysis, food sampling, and rectal swabs will be announced as soon as information is available.
“Rectal swabs gina-culture man gud na, boot pasabot, imuhang ibutang ang imong sample sa petri dish in a culture of medium tapos patobuon nimo na siya. So mohulat gyud tag oras or adlaw kung kanus-a motubo and there are specific times to check on this kay 48 hours to 72 hours even as to as much as five days before we come up with groups. Mao ning hinungdan nga madugay ta ang mga resulta sa mga ing-ani nga procedures (The rectal swabs need to be cultured. This means you need to put the sample in a petri dish to be cultured and allow it to grow. We have to wait for several days and conduct checks after 48 or 72 hours. Sometimes, it will take as many as five days. That is why results can take a while),” Lopez said.
Suspected causes for the diarrhea outbreak remain to be either water or food.
Meanwhile, Lopez said that based on their initial report on Tuesday, July 19, there are 22 patients admitted to St. John Hospital, 15 in Mediquest Hospital Davao, seven in St. Felix Medical Hospital, 11 in Malta Medical Center, eight in Viacrucis Medical Hospital, 27 in Ernesto Guadalupe Community Hospital, three in Southern Philippines Medical Center, five in Toril Health Center, while there are three outpatients.
Meanwhile, Davao City Water District (DCWD) said that they have already conducted their preventive measures even if the result will show that the cause of the diarrhea outbreak will be water contamination.
“Wala ta nag-increase sa atoang chlorine dosage, the residual is the same within the ideal parameters. Ang atoang extensive flashing mao gyud na siya ang pinaka-measure na atoang gibuhat regardless na ang atoang chlorine residual within the safe parameters, so hinloan gyud ang atoang mga tubo (We did not increase the chlorine dosage, the residual is the same within the ideal parameters. We also conducted an extensive flashing which is our priority measure [safety] regardless of the chlorine residual, so the pipes should be cleaned),” JC Duhaylungsod, DCWD Spokesperson said in a separate interview on July 20 at AFP-PNP Press Conference.KSD