DOH investigates typhoid fever outbreak in Cebu town

Health officials are investigating an outbreak of typhoid fever in a town in Cebu, which some residents have blamed on the local water system.

 

At least 86 cases of typhoid fever have been recorded at the health clinic of Borbon town, GMA Cebu's Vic Serna reported Friday.

 

The cases were from barangays Lugo, Clavera, Cajil, Bili and Laaw. Some of the patients were brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

 

State-run Philippine Information Agency said DOH Central Visayas regional head Jaime Bernadas confirmed a typhoid outbreak had been declared in Borbon Thursday.
 

"We are giving medical assistance to typhoid-affected residents in Borbon," Bernadas said.

Contaminated water

 

A separate report by GMA Cebu's Chona Carreon said the water used by the residents was contaminated with fecal coliform.

 

Department of Health Central Visayas recommended chlorination of the water sources in the area, and gave medicine to those affected.

 

Bernadas also urged residents to boil their drinking water.

 

GMA Cebu's Serna reported initial qualitative tests by the regional epidemiology and surveillance unit suggested the water from Sitio Makina in Barangay Lugo may have been contaminated with human waste.

 

But Lugo water system and municipal administrator Rolando Bucog said not all who got sick got their water from the area.

 

On the other hand, Bucog admitted their chlorinator's pump has not been working for two months. He said they are working on the problem.

 

No need for state of calamity

 

Bucog also said the number of cases had been declining since cases were brought to the Borbon health clinic last June 12.

 

He said that if this trend continues, there will be no need to declare the five affected barangays under a state of calamity.

 

Measles-like disease

 

Meanwhile, state-run Philippines News Agency said at least 43 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City have reportedly contracted a measles-like disease.

 

The inmates who had such symptoms were isolated to prevent further infections, the report said.

 

The PNA report said the jail has 1,971 inmates. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News