THREE died and 22 others were hospitalized, as of April 11, 2022, due to diarrhea in Barangay Naga, Laak, Davao de Oro.
Dr. Julius Jaekel Remollo, municipal health officer of Laak, said they are still identifying the cause of the outbreak.
As of Tuesday, April 12, samples from water sources in the barangay were collected for bacteriological and chemical tests.
According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), there are three reservoirs in the area that were installed in 2003 and 2010, and these have not undergone maintenance treatment since 2010.
Reports from the PHO also stated that the water sources may be contaminated with wastes from the nearby households that have no sanitation facilities, and/or with the chemicals from the banana and mango plantations located at the upper portion of the reservoirs.
Remollo said the first case of loose bowel movement in the barangay was recorded last April 8, 2022.
“Saturday namatay ang isa (lahi sa nauna), wala na nadala sa hospital (Last Saturday, a victim died (not the first victim) but was not brought to the hospital),” he said in a text message.
Remollo added that the two other victims died on Sunday in the hospital.
In the record of the local government unit of Laak, around 150 households in Purok 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the barangay have been affected by the outbreak.
Due to the magnitude of the affectation, a state of emergency was declared in Barangay Naga on April 11, 2022.
The provincial and municipal government units provided immediate assistance to the affected families.
The local government unit of Laak distributed bottles of mineral water, biscuits, and chocolates to the affected residents, as well as food packs to those patients brought to the hospitals.
The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro provided jerry cans and chlorine granules.
The Department of Health-Davao also provided medicines (10 boxes of metronidazole tablets) and 250 packs of Oral Rehydration Salt to the affected residents.
The 60th Infantry Battalion gave out congee in the area, while MRRD Youth Laak, and Sumifru Philippines supplied water for drinking and for other uses. (PIA)