Cholera outbreak in NCotabato now fully contained

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Life in North Cotabato villages hit by a cholera outbreak last week has returned to normal, but health authorities continued imposing measures to prevent any resurgence of the water-borne disease.

Eight cholera-stricken villagers in the hinterland Alamada town in the province perished while more than 200 others were hospitalized between May 9 and 14 after drinking water from springs and rivers contaminated with Vibrio cholerae.

Health workers and sanitation experts dispatched to Alamada by North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza almost a week ago have also been educating the villagers on traditional means of purifying drinking water.

Local officials in Alamada and the provincial government agreed to temporarily close to tourists the Asik-Asik Falls in Barangay Dado, where the outbreak started.

The majestic falls, a major eco-tourism site in North Cotabato, is frequented by hundreds of local and foreign tourists during Saturdays, Sundays, and during non-working holidays.

“Life has started to return to normal. What we need now is a continuing education process for the local folks to learn how to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases in their communities,” said Dr. Eva Rabaya, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

Health officials told reporters Friday that rectal swabs taken from 438 Alamada villagers, from out of the 769 that complained of painful abdominal spams, nausea and diarrhea, tested positive to Vibrio cholerae.

Rabaya said they have asked barangay officials to impose rationing of safe drinking water to their constituents in the cholera-stricken areas to prevent any resurgence of last week’s outbreak.

The governor, who had earlier sent medicines and intravenous fluids to health centers in Alamada, said IPHO workers will remain deployed in the municipality until health officials declare the outbreak as fully contained.