Contaminated water leaves 2 dead in Camotes: Diarrhea outbreak

CEBU, Philippines —  A community outbreak of acute gastroenteritis has been reported in at least four barangays of San Francisco town in Camotes Island killing two children and sending 50 other residents to the hospital due to severe diarrhea.

Roque Morato, a nurse at the town’s Rural Health Unit (RHU), said most of the victims are from Purok Bastian in Barangay Sonog. There were also some cases in Barangays Esperanza, Cabongaan, and Sta. Cruz. 

“Nagsuka-kalibang unya ang uban na grabe grabe gyud is nag-dehydration, ang uban naluya na,” Morato told The Freeman.

A two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl died in the hospital on March 26 and March 30, respectively, while being treated for acute gastroenteritis allegedly caused by contaminated water supply. The two fatalities were from Barangay Sonog.

Acute gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that occurs once an individual consumes a contaminated food or water. Morato said 33 patients are still confined at the Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital in San Francisco as of late yesterday.

Initial investigation conducted by the local government unit shows that the diarrhea outbreak may have been caused by contaminated water supply.

“Nakakuha na og sample unya ... actually naa nay result gikan sa atoang PHO (Provincial Health Office) laboratory nga positive siya sa coliform…naay hugaw,” Morato said.

The affected barangays get their potable water supply from a communal artesian well in Barangay Sonog and from a private water system managed by a cooperative. 

Dr. Johnlehi Surio, incident commander assigned on the ground, said they started collecting water samples on Monday from the communal artesian well and the private water system.

Results of the laboratory tests conducted by PHO revealed that water samples from the private water system tested positive of coliform bacteria albeit not much in quantity.  Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.   

  Surio said they are continuing the monitoring of patients in the hospital as well as those who stayed in their homes.

 Medical response teams were already deployed in the affected areas to assist patients in giving medications like oral rehydrating solution and zinc supplements.

Health and local officials also conducted education and awareness campaign to the community as well as taught them how to treat their water for safe use.

 “Water containers and clean and safe drinking water were also provided to the people. Other needs were also assessed. Temporarily, the local officials ordered closure of the suspected source of the outbreak,” Surio said.

 “Mohangyo mi sa mga katawhan labi na gayud sa mga tawo nga mokuha og tubig dinhang dapita nga ayaw lang usa mo gamit og tubig gikan sa kanang lugara. Agaw gayud mo inom og tubig nga dili mo sigurado kon asa gikan. Mahimo nga pabukalan o mineral ang gamiton nga tubig sa pag-inom ug pagluto. Para sa uban nga katuyoan sama sa pagligo ug paghugas, mahimo nga magbutang og gamay chlorine/bleach aron mahimong limpyo ang tubig. Mag-andam og usa ka balde nga tubig dayon sagulan og usa ka gamay nga takob sa bleach sama sa zonrox,” the RHU urged the residents in their town.— FPL (FREEMAN)