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BACOLOD City – There was a “food and waterborne-disease outbreak” in Barangay Handumanan, the City Health Office (CHO) said.
Over 100 pupils of Handumanan Elementary School 1 were hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning on Friday.
A total of 145 patients were admitted from Friday to Sunday but at least 11 had already been discharged, said City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environmental Sanitation Division, said the situation was considered a “food and waterborne-disease outbreak” because the patients’ medical condition was possibly caused by the food and water they ingested.
It was considered an “outbreak” given the big number of cases, she added.
The patients were taken to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, Inc. (BAMCI), The Doctors’ Hospital, and the South Bacolod General Hospital.
Tan said they were still waiting for the results of the laboratory test on the patients’ stools to determine the specific cause/s of their illness.
The CHO conducted water sampling from four sources in the area — including the source of ice used in juices sold to the pupils — for a bacteriological examination, Gensoli said.
She said their Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit also got samples of fruit juices and food sold by ambulant vendors for sampling.
Classes in Handumanan Elementary Schools I and II on Friday and today were suspended.
Rep. Greg Gasataya and Councilor Em Ang were the first to assist the patients at the CLMMRH when the mass admission started on Friday. City Administrator John Orola later joined them.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was in Manila that day for an official function, instructed the CHO to check the patients and the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) to attend to their needs.
Since Friday the DSSD have been distributing food packs to the patients and their watchers. The CHO also deployed its doctors from the Health Emergency Management to the hospitals to act as point persons.
On Sunday Leonardia called for an emergency meeting with 20 key officials to plan how to contain the “outbreak.”
Aside from Gensoli, Gasataya, Ang (chairwoman, Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on health), and Orola, present at the meeting at city hall were:
* Dr. Rodolfo Dumayas Jr. of the Department of Health – Development Management Office
* Schools Division Superintendent Cynthia Demavivas of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Bacolod City
* several CLMMRH department heads led by Dr. Mary Johnson Cabaluna
* Sally Abelarde of the DSSD
* executive assistants Butch Soliguen, Jose Ma. Vargas and Moises de la Cruz
* Engr. Amy Tentia of the City Engineer’s Office
Health officials have sourced out from the DOH Region 6 the medicines needed for the patients.
The supply will last until the patients fully recover, and those who have been discharged will still be given medicines, they said.
Two of the admitted pupils — one in BAMCI and another in CLMMRH — tested positive for cholera, Cabaluna said.
She recommended that all children who had been admitted, including those already discharged, be treated as if they have cholera.
Leonardia also instructed the CHO and the DepEd to conduct a seminar on food safety and proper food handling among canteen operators and ambulant vendors in all 46 elementary and 22 secondary public schools here.
The CHO and DepEd will start conducting the seminar next week in time for the semestral break. (With reports from the Bacolod City Public Information Office/PN)
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