Public urged to watch what they eat, drink

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-7 has warned the public to watch carefully what they eat and drink this summer.

Renan Cimafranca, head of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, said that ingesting contaminated food and water can lead to typhoid, the second leading disease in the region.

“During summertime, people tend to be careless with what they drink and not mindful of the bacteria they can get from contaminated water,” said Cimafranca.

Other diseases caused by contaminated water include diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery. Common symptoms of typhoid are high-grade fever that last up to two weeks, splitting headache, and diarrhea or constipation.

Cimafranca said that if the patient does not seek medical help right away, the symptoms can cause typhoid psychosis or intestinal bleeding.

He added that typhoid-stricken patients who have sought medical attention should take the complete course of treatment advised by the doctor. After dengue, typhoid is the second leading disease in Central Visayas.

Since January to April 13 this year, DOH records show a total of 472 typhoid cases recorded in the region. This is, however, lower compared to the 1,512 cases reported within the same period last year because of the outbreak in Tuburan in March 2012. (FREEMAN)