ILOILO – The provincial government is not keen on buying cholera vaccines at this time.
Three cases of cholera are not compelling enough to make purchases, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office showed just three cholera cases from Jan. 1 to Sept. 10, 2022 — one from Oton and two from Pavia, and all have recovered.
“Madamo kita sakit nga gina-atubang, where’s cholera there?…If we have to buy vaccine, pilion ta gid kon ano ang maayo nga unahon,” said Defensor.
In case cholera vaccines become critically necessary, he said, the provincial government will consult with the IPHO and the Department of Health (DOH) on what’s the best course of action to take.
“There are other measures, indi amo na ka urgent ang vaccine if you have other measures to counter the disease, especially if the vaccines are expensive,” said Defensor.
To avoid cholera and acute gastroenteritis (AGE), the IPHO advised people to ensure the cleanliness of food and drinks being consumed; do not practice open defecation; and make sure water sources are safe.
The provincial government recently purchased water testing kits and chlorine for affected municipalities.
Moreover, the IPHO conducts advocacy campaigns and information dissemination on cholera and acute gastroenteritis (AGE).
3 cholera cases acquired in Iloilo City
IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon confirmed that, based on their contact tracing and investigation, the three recorded cholera cases in Iloilo province were all obtained in Iloilo City. The patients either ate from eateries or bought drinks from ambulant vendors.
Quiñon added that no other family members of the three identified cases went down with either
AGE or cholera.
Even water samples from their respective water sources tested by sanitary inspectors turned out negative for E. coli or coliform bacteria.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholera. It has a short incubation period, from less than one to five days.
The bacterium produces an enterotoxin that causes copious, painless, watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given.
The mode of transmission is eating food or drinking water contaminated with human waste infected with Vibrio cholera bacteria.
Signs and symptoms commonly include:
* sudden onset of frequent painless watery stools
* vomiting
* rapid dehydration (e.g. sunken eyeballs, wrinkled and dry skin)./PN
