BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The city government of San Carlos lifted its “state of health emergency” on Wednesday as cases of diarrheal diseases dropped.
Mayor Renato Gustilo issued an executive order on this on Monday, March 6.
As of March 7, only 24 active cases were confined at the San Carlos City Hospital, compared to 52 a week ago.
Cases of amoebiasis and acute gastroenteritis across 18 barangays totaled to 469 from Feb. 1 to March 1 based on the local government’s monitoring.
Gustilo declared a state of health emergency on Feb. 22. Two residents died due to suspected amoebiasis.
The Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau conducted an investigation and confirmed an outbreak.
Of the 25 water samples from various sources in the city, 18 tested positive for coliform, while six were positive for E. coli bacteria.
Food and waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and amoebiasis are characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting with or without fever, abdominal pain, headache, and body malaise.
An illness is acquired through the ingestion of food or water contaminated by disease-causing microorganisms. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
