BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) documented 203 cases of acute gastroenteritis with seven deaths from Sept. 1 to Oct. 26.
CHO Environment Sanitation Division chief, Dr. Grace Tan, said the fatalities were from barangays 40, Alijis, Bata, Cabug, Estefania, Mansilingan, and Tangub.
Also, based on the CHO record in the same period, there were 13 confirmed cholera cases, with zero deaths, and all have recovered.
Barangays with confirmed cholera cases were Alijis (three); Handumanan, Sum-ag, and Granada (two each); and 40, Banago, Mansilingan, and Tangub (one each).
Last week, the CHO declared a cholera outbreak in Barangay Alijis after confirming three more cases.
According to City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli, cholera is caused by ingesting water or food contaminated with the cholera bacterium, causing the infected person to suffer from severe diarrhea and vomiting.
Meanwhile, Tan said after conducting an inspection of 240 water refilling stations in the city, 110 had no sanitary permit.
They were ordered to temporarily close their establishment until they secured their permits, she added.
The CHO official advised the public to practice “WASH” (water, sanitation, and hygiene) to avoid food and water-borne diseases.
Tan again reminded the public to:
* use safe and potable water for drinking and domestic use
* ask assistance from the barangay for chlorination of community water source
* practice sanitation at all times through proper waste disposal
* encourage and promote zero open defecation (ZOD)
* exercise and make proper hygiene a habit
* wash hands before preparing, before and after eating, and after changing diapers or caring for the sick or pets
* wash veggies and fruits well
* cook food thoroughly and avoid contact of raw foods with cooked ones
Tan also urged people to seek early treatment if bowel movement is more than three times a day with or if vomiting, and consult the nearest barangay health station or attending physician./PN
