DOH monitors capillariasis outbreak in Zambo Norte

Surprised over what it thought was a situation under control, the Health Department has started monitoring a reported capillariasis outbreak that has killed at least 70 in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte. Health authorities in the province have also mounted an information drive to teach residents how they can avoid getting the disease. "Titignan ko ... (Ang pagkakaalam ko), na-control na ito, ang bilang 100 from July to Nov. 26. Ang nakakalungkot, tatlo ang namatay (I will look into this. The reports I got was that this was already under control, that there were 100 cases, but three died)," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in an interview on dzEC radio Wednesday morning. Zamboanga del Norte provincial health officer Carmencita Icao said at least 490 patients had displayed symptoms of the disease in past months, many of them testing "positive." Icao said authorities have started reproducing information materials on prevention measures in the local dialect. "We are now reproducing materials in the local dialect so they can understand, we need to translate," she said in an interview on dzRH radio. Newspaper reports indicated at least 70 had died due to a capillariasis outbreak in Moyo village in Siayan, a second-class town in Zamboanga del Norte with a population of 33,074 people. But Duque lamented they had long been discouraging residents from eating raw fish and food, which he said was the cause of capillariasis. "Madaling iwasan ito, iluto ang pagkain (It is very easy to avoid it, just cook your food)," he said. He also lamented that many residents refused to undergo a stool examination. "Ang iba pinababayaan sarili nila (Many residents have no concern for their own health)," he said. Capillariasis is an intestinal parasitism caused by smallest nematodes that infect humans called Capillaria Philippinesis. The worms can be seen in the small intestine of humans. The DOH website said capillariasis can be acquired through consumption of infected raw or improperly cooked small freshwater fish. After eating infected fish, it takes at least about two weeks for the eggs to mature. Symptoms include abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea for more than two weeks, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, swelling of the body, and muscle wasting. Prevention measures include cooking fish thoroughly before eating, avoiding eating raw fish, and using sanitary toilet for disposal of human waste. - GMANews.TV