ILOILO – Cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) here rose to 36, data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) as of Sept. 11 showed.
Here’s the breakdown of the cases:
* Anilao – one (hospitalized)
* Barotac Nuevo – one (hospitalized)
* Dingle – one (hospitalized)
* Leganes – five (all hospitalized)
* New Lucena – one (hospitalized)
* Oton – nine (four outpatient and five hospitalized)
* Pavia – three (two hospitalized and one recovered)
* Pototan – one (hospitalized)
* San Dionisio – one (recovered
* Santa Barbara – three (one recovered and two hospitalized)
* Tigbauan – 10 (six outpatient and four hospitalized)
Classified by age group, the number of cases were:
* less than one year old – three
* One to 10 years old – 13
* 11 to 20 years old – eight
* 21 to 30 years old – three
* 31 to 40 years old – six
* 41 years old and above – three
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the IPHO, said investigations into how these patients acquired AGE are still ongoing.
She urged the public to observe precautionary measures and coordinate with Municipal Health Offices (MHOs).
Since January of this year, the IPHO has been distributing water testing kits to MHOs.
Just this June and July, a training on proper food handling to avoid food and water-borne illness was conducted by the IPHO for the sanitary inspectors of 42 towns and the component city of Passi.
Quiñon also said sanitary inspectors check water refilling stations every month.
She also stressed the importance of hygienic food handling and preparation./PN
