DOH: No cholera outbreak in Philippines  

MANILA, Philippines — Despite recording a sharp increase in the number of cholera cases, the Department of Health (DOH) has maintained that there is no outbreak of the disease in the country.

The DOH reported a 282 percent increase in the number of cholera cases nationwide this year.

“No local governments have declared an outbreak as cases remained manageable. Thanks to the coordination between the hospitals and the health department in monitoring and treating patients,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a statement released over the weekend.

“We have many teams on the ground, addressing and responding to our current cholera cases. We strengthened our surveillance and response systems nationwide,” Vergeire added.

She said the health department is working hard to improve these systems and mitigate the impact of natural disasters on public health.

Data from the DOH epidemiology bureau showed that a total of 5,860 cholera cases have been recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to Nov. 26.

The figure is 282 percent higher than the 1,534 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Among regions, Eastern Visayas posted the highest number of cases with 3,620 followed by Davao Region with 810 and Central Luzon with 336.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 26, a total of 640 cholera cases, mostly from Eastern Visayas, were recorded.

Of the total cases, the DOH logged 67 fatalities or a 1.1 percent case fatality rate, which is slightly higher than last year’s 0.8 percent CFR.

The health department has been providing necessary assistance in critical areas to ensure that people have access to treatment and clean drinking water, Vergeire said.

Cholera is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with bacteria.