Contaminated drinking water kills 6 in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY— The provincial government of Catanduanes has started sending medicines and health personnel yesterday to the coastal town of San Andres in the island province of Catanduanes after a slow but deadly outbreak of diarrhea has killed six people, mostly children.

Gov. Leandro Verceles Jr. has identified the fatalities as 10-month-old Genie Garcia, of Barangay Divino Rostro; Rosemarie Sumido, 13, of Barangay Sapang-Palay; three-year-old JoeBira Bonagua, of Barangay Carangag; 10-month-old Johnny Manlangit of Barangay Codon; Kaila Bongon, 3, of Barangay Cab-ab and Ela May Bañadira, 1, of Barangay Putting-Baybay.

"We are sending medicines, personnel as well as dextrose to the Jose Alberto Memorial District Hospital in San Andres to stave off the diarrhea outbreak," said Verceles in a telephone interview.

Verceles added that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will file a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the town of San Andres and some barangays in Virac so the calamity fund can be used to buy medicines and extend assistance to the victims.

Dr. Rico Lareza, assistant provincial health officer, said heavy rains during the past weeks may have contaminated wells and springs, where residents get their drinking water, with either animal or human refuse.

"During our visit to the affected barangays we found out that most barangay residents have no toilets," Lareza told The STAR also in a telephone interview.

In fact, pig pens in Barangay Cab-Cab could have contaminated the water source.

Lareza added that 161 cases of diarrhea have been monitored starting Sept. 1.