DOH: Typhoid fever outbreak in Alegria

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Health has declared an outbreak of typhoid fever in the southwestern town of Alegria as over 300 have been afflicted as of yesterday.

Dr. Samson de la Peña, Municipal Health Officer of Alegria, however, said that the patients are already being treated, but they are still waiting for a few days to see if the treatment worked.

Due to the outbreak, a state of calamity has been declared in the town located 115 kilometers from Cebu City.

De la Peña said that about 60 percent of the patients come from barangay Santa Filomena while the rest are from barangay Poblacion.

Alegria has nine barangays.

The municipal health officer said that they have been receiving reports of patients exhibiting symptoms of typhoid fever since early December.

They did not, however, immediately rule them to be typhoid fever as these symptoms are also manifested in other illnesses.

He said that the patients suffered from high fever and chills at night, but their temperatures dropped during the mornings.

De la Peña said that if one is suffering from typhoid fever, the patient will have temperatures between 38 to 40 degrees Centigrade lasting from a week to ten days, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and diarrhea.

Dr. Cristina Giango of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said they have started receiving reports from Alegria regarding the rising number of typhoid fever cases last Sunday.

According to her the municipality already had a total of 185 outpatients since Tuesday morning where in 36 were admitted at the Malabuyoc Hospital.

Sixteen of the patients were examined and 13 of them turned positive with the typhoid.

DOH-7 Assistant Director Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi said there were 165 acute fever cases were reported and 39 were admitted.

She said there were cases in some of barangays but it is more concentrated in Sta. Filomena and Poblacion.

Legaspi said they have already conducted a water bacteriology test and a water analysis. They have also chlorinated the water being distributed by the local waterworks system.

Legaspi also said that they already distributed intra venous fluids, chlorine granules and antibiotics for the patients. (FREEMAN)