DOH logs sharp rise in cholera, typhoid cases from January to August

The Philippines reported 2,650 cases of cholera from January to August, up 230% from the same period last year, according to the Department of Health on Friday.

However, the 141 cholera cases reported in the last three to four weeks are 18% less than they were in the same period in 2021, according to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire added that from January to August, the nation saw a total of 7,681 typhoid cases. This is 109% more than the previous year.

The number of typhoid cases reported in recent weeks is also 12% fewer than it was at the same time in the previous year.

Vergeire said that, similar to dengue, cholera and typhoid cases rise during the rainy season before steadily decreasing.

“’Pag tinignan natin itong mga kaso na ito, during the start of the rainy season nag peak sila, tapos eventually pababa na rin sila ng pababa. Just like with dengue,” she said at a media briefing.

(If we look at the cases, they peak during the start of the rainy season, and then eventually go down. Just like with dengue.)

“Because one of the factors that can contribute to the increase in cases would be the rains, napuputulan ng tubig ‘yung iba, may disruption sa water services, so they look for optional na para makakuha sila ng tubig and sometimes madumi ‘yung tubig kaya nagkakaroon ng mga ganitong insidente,” she added.

(One of the factors that could contribute to the increase in cases would be the rain. The water supply of some people would get cut off; there would be disruption of water services, so they would look for an alternative source, and sometimes they don’t get clean water. That’s why there’s an increase in cases.) —VBL, GMA News