Typhoid fever downs 20 people in Southern Leyte village

MAASIN CITY, Philippines — Typhoid fever has downed at least 20 people in an upland village in this city, the city health office reported Thursday. Francilisa Tan, city health officer, said the outbreak might have been caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation in Barangay Guadalupe, about 15 kilometers away from the city proper. "We have declared an outbreak considering that there was no single case in the past but the number of victims in a small village rose to an alarming level in just two weeks," Ms. Tan said. The community sources its drinking water from an open deep well. "The water source is suspicious. It was not chlorinated. Maybe there were dead animals or insects in the well. Sometimes they collect rain water and they just drink it," Ms. Tan told BusinessWorld. The absence of toilets in many households in the upland village could also be blamed for the outbreak. The first typhoid case was reported to the city health office in the second week of May. Majority of those affected were schoolchildren with ages ranging from nine to 15. Ms. Tan said the city government distributed medicines to contain the outbreak and prevent deaths. She added they have launched a massive information campaign in the village and in other nearby communities. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld