BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The number of cholera cases in Negros Occidental climbed to 12, data released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) yesterday morning showed.
According to PHO head, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, they recorded two cases in Silay City and one in E.B. Magalona town on Sept. 26.
The following day, on Sept. 27, one more cholera case was logged in Victorias City and another one in Silay City.
On Sept. 29, the PHO recorded two more cases in Silay City and on Oct. 10, one case each in Talisay City and E.B. Magalona were confirmed.
On Oct. 12, one more case was recorded in Talisay City and another in E.B. Magalona.
And yesterday morning, E.B. Magalona added another confirmed cholera case.
Tumimbang also revealed that there are now two fatalities related to cholera in the province; the latest was a 37-year-old male from E.B. Magalona.
Tumimbang also revealed that of the initial 10 water samples sent for laboratory analysis at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, one tested positive for cholera.
This cholera-positive sample was taken from E.B. Magalona.
So far, all of the cases were adults.
Tumimbang again reminded municipal and city health offices in Negros Occidental to closely monitor all water-refilling stations, as well as restaurants, eateries, and food kiosks.
The PHO head also pointed out that the cholera cases are, so far, confined only to the 3rd District.
Tumimbang also advised local health offices to enforce a “zero open defecation” policy.
“Waay lang ko kabalo sang coverage for each LGUs kapin pa gid sa mga areas nga may ara cholera. Definitely, it dictates nga kung taas ang imo cholera cases or acute diarrhea cases sa isa ka barangay, [then] may ara gid sila ya problem sa sanitation, ina ya sigurado gid ko,” Tumimbang added.
Cholera outbreak in E.B. Magalona
Meanwhile, the local government of E.B. Magalona yesterday declared cholera outbreak in three barangays – Batea, 3 (Poblacion) and Tanza.
“It is unfortunate that we have recorded four cholera cases already (with one fatality), as per report of our Municipal Health Office. We have two cases in Tanza (where one patient died), and one case each in Batea and 3 (Poblacion),” said Mayor Marvin M. Malacon in a statement released yesterday.
He added that the fatality was the town’s third case – a 37-year-old male from Hacienda Manalo 5 in Barangay Tanza. He died of septic shock from infectious diarrhea and severe dehydration on Oct. 11.
“Rest assured that your municipal officials and concerned agencies, including the Municipal Health Office, are on top of the situation,” the mayor said.
Malacon has already called for several urgent meetings with the Sangguniang Bayan’s local drinking water quality monitoring committee to implement more stringent measures to contain the cholera outbreak and avert the incidence of cholera and other water-borne diseases./PN
