Calamba creek tests positive for Poliovirus

Amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a creek in Calamba, Laguna has tested positive for the poliovirus 3.

In the report of Ian Cruz on 24 Oras, the Calamba City Health Office has started inspecting the water of Ligasong creek in October 2019 based on the recommendation of the Department of Health and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

But it was only last month that the water sample from the creek, which is located between Barangays Bucal and Halang, tested positive for  poliovirus.

The residents expressed concern over the Facebook post by the Sangguniang Barangay ng Bucal which warned from drinking NAWASA water without first boiling water.

"Siguraduhin po natin na hindi kontaminado ang ating iniinom na tubig at iwasan po na tayo ay makainom galing sa NAWASA na hindi napapakuluan lalo't higit sa mga bahayan na malapit sa nasabing lugar," the post read read.

The City Health Office, meanwhile, assured that the water supplied by the Calamba Water District (CWD) was safe for drinking.

"Hindi naman para mag-alala o matakot ang mga tao lalong-lalo na pagdating sa ating iniinom na tubig dahil ito ay hindi naman kontaminado," Dr. Adelino Labro said.

"Lalong-lalo na 'yung mga nanggaling sa Calamba Water District," he added.

In an advisory, the CWD said that it has yet to receive the test results of samples of water taken from the contaminated creek.

It also clarified that the water source of the CWD is not connected to the creek..

The barangay chairman of Bucal declined to issue a statement regarding the Facebook post. On the same social media account, it was clarified that the water from CWD is not contaminated with poliovirus.

Labro issued advisory on health and sanitation, adding that residents should stop throwing garbage into the creek. -- Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News