BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) sent water samples to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for laboratory examination after logging more cholera cases since an alert was raised in September.
As of yesterday, there were three confirmed cholera cases, two more after the first case was reported on Sept. 16, as well as 35 suspected cases.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingesting contaminated food or water.
In a report, Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said the samples sent to the RITM in Manila were taken from community water sources.
The confirmed cases were from barangays Mansilingan, Sum-ag and Tangub.
Tan reported that “no cholera organisms” have been noted in water samples from community sources as tested in a laboratory. However, the cases were confirmed by stool culture.
It added that the cases had varied water sources such as deep wells, open dug wells, water refilling stations, and water supply provider PrimeWater, while the food they took varied as well, coming from various sources and handlers.
Tan said the CHO was also coordinating with the city’s water supplier and refilling stations as well as with hospitals and health stations in the monitoring of cases.
“We also have coordination with the Department of Health-Western Visayas for technical assistance,” she added.
She said they also continue to monitor water refilling stations issued with sanitary orders for “no operation/production with no permits”. (PNA)/PN
