ILOILO – The towns of Tigbauan and Oton in the first district recorded the highest number of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases, based on Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) data released last Sept. 14.
Tigbauan tallies 11 cases while Oton has nine.
IPHO record also showed that from 36 total cases in the province on Sept. 11, the numbers climbed to 44, with 18 active and 26 recovered.
“Ang AGE cases naglab-ot na sa 44 kag ang currently active cases naton 18, whereas ang recovered is 26 cases or 59 percent sang total cases,” said Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, IPHO head.
Here is the breakdown of the 44 cases per town:
* Anilao – four cases (three admitted, one recovered)
* Barotac Nuevo – four cases (all admitted)
* Dingle – one case (recovered)
* Janiuay – one case (admitted)
* Leganes – five cases (one admitted, four recovered)
* New Lucena – one case (recovered)
* Oton – nine cases (three admitted, six recovered)
* Pavia – three cases (two admitted, one recovered)
* Pototan – one case (recovered)
* San Dionisio – one case (one recovered)
* Santa Barbara – three cases (two admitted, one recovered)
* Tigbauan – 11 cases (two admitted, nine recovered)
Below is the classification per age group:
* Less than one year old – three cases
* One to 10 years old – 13 cases
* 11 to 20 years old – eight cases
* 21 to 30 years old – three cases
* 31 to 40 years old – seven cases
* 41 years old and above – four cases
THREE CASES OF CHOLERA
Aside from the 44 AGE cases, the province also had three cases of cholera from the towns of Oton – one and Pavia – two, but all have recovered.
Based on the initial investigation by the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU)-IPHO, the three cholera cases bought food or drinks in Iloilo city.
“Ang first case nga bata sa Oton nagbakal sang ilimnon ang iya iloy nga ginabaligya sang vendor sa syudad, second is 21-year-old female student sa syudad nga nagkaon sa karenderia sa tabuk sang school and third case is another 21-year-old student kag nagkaon man sa tabuk sang school,” added Quiñon.
The IPHO head has then again advised everyone to be careful about the food or drinks being consumed by making sure they are safe and the preparation is clean.
“Sigurado bala nga malimpyu ang aton ginakuhaan, kon indi sigurado indi dira magbakal or siguruhon nga i-boil or reheat ang pagkaon nga ginabakal para malayo kita sa cholera,” Quiñon emphasized.
Meanwhile, IPHO has augmented water testing kits and chlorine to affected municipalities. Chromogenic substrate (Colitag) for water testing and Troclosene sodium (Aquatabs) for disinfection of water sources were distributed.
Quiñon said it has been the practice of the province to regularly purchase Colilert for water testing and chlorine granules for disinfection of deep wells.
“We have purchased Colilert, a water testing kit to detect coliform/E. coli, for distribution once the supplier delivers. The chlorine granules for disinfection are already for post qualification,” the health officer said.
Quiñon said the PESU, in coordination with the municipal epidemiology and surveillance units (MESUs) and sanitation inspectors of the province and municipalities/city, collect results of water testing conducted monthly for water refilling stations.
Moreover, the IPHO conducts advocacy campaigns and information dissemination on AGE prevention and control.
Last June 24 and July 8, the IPHO organized a food-and water-borne disease orientation for rural sanitation inspectors./PN
