Diarrhea outbreak hits Camarines village

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Health personnel are putting up a field hospital and providing the necessary health interventions after a toddler died of diarrhea in a remote island barangay in Siruma, Camarines Sur.

Dr. Rose Rempillo, Health Emergency Management Service coordinator, said the diarrhea outbreak in Barangay Butawanan has already affected 450 families or six percent of the 4,000 residents.

The island village has been isolated since Jan. 12 due to big waves and strong winds brought by the northeast monsoon.

Rempillo said the continuous heavy rains as well as feces from stray animals have contaminated the sources of drinking water of the villagers.

DOH regional director Nestor Santiago and Office of Civil Defense regional director Raffy Alejandro, along with Marlou Salazar, deputy commanding general of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, have brought medicine and bottled water to Butawanan, Rempillo said.