Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the latest fatality of cholera is a female resident in E.B. Magalona while the first death was an elderly woman from Silay City.
Provincial Health Office (PHO) records showed that there are five cholera cases in Silay City, four from E.B. Magalona, two from Talisay City, and one from E.B. Magalona.
Tumimbang said the areas with cholera cases happen to be from the Third District which are located in the coastal barangays.
“Areas having cases of cholera need to improve their sanitation, especially the source of potable water and waste disposal,” he stressed.
Tumimbang added that of the 10 water samples sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), one tested positive for cholera.
The doctor said another set of 10 water samples had been sent to the RITM.
“But, all the 12 patients have been tested positive for cholera at Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJP) in Silay City,” he added.
Tumimbang also emphasized that local government units (LGUs) must continue to closely monitor water sources in their respective localities and also maintain cleanliness especially on food because cholera does not only come from unsafe drinking water and but also from food.
In a related development, the Municipal Government of E.B. Magalona yesterday declared an outbreak in three of its barangays namely Batea, 3 (Poblacion) and Tanza due to cholera.
Mayor Marvin Malacon, in a statement, said it is unfortunate that they have recorded four cholera cases already with one fatality as per report of the Municipal Health Office.
Contrary to the report of the PHO, E.B. Magalona recorded two cases in Tanza where one patient died, and one case each in Batea and 3 (Poblacion).
Malacon said the fatality was the town’s third case, a 37-year-old male from Hacienda Manalo 5 in Barangay Tanza.
He died of septic shock from infectious diarrhea and severe dehydration on October 11, 2022.
The patient was admitted at the TLJPH on October 10.
The town’s fourth case is a 60-year-old male, also from Hacienda Manalo 5 in Barangay Tanza. He was admitted at the TLJPH on October 13, with heavy growth of Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
The second case was a two-year-old boy from Barangay 3 (Poblacion). He was admitted to the TLJPH on October 6.
The baby was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration. He was discharged already and is now in safe condition, the mayor said.
The first case, meanwhile, was a 30-year-old female resident of Sitio Tinapok in Barangay Batea.
She was admitted at the TLJPH last September 23. The patient was already discharged and is now in stable condition.
“Rest assured that your municipal officials and concerned agencies, including the Municipal Health Office, are on top of the situation,” Malacon said.
“We have visited the respective residents of these areas and have urged them to make sure their food and water are clean, and have advised them to boil their drinking water or subject them to chlorination,” he said.
The local government, Malacon said, had called for several urgent meetings with the Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee to implement more stringent measures to contain the cholera outbreak and avert the incidence of cholera and other water-borne diseases.
They also met with the owners and operators of the water refilling stations in the municipality to reiterate the policy “no permit, no business” policy including sanitation permits.
“Likewise, we urged all of them to subject their water samples to bacteriological testing with accredited DOH laboratories immediately, and post the safety clearance on conspicuous places of their stores,” he added.
In Bacolod City alone, Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli said yesterday that city now has a total of nine confirmed cholera cases putting it under alert level.
City Health Office (CHO) records showed the nine cases included those in Barangays 40, Mansilingan, Alijis, Tangub, Handumanan with one case each; and Barangays Sum-ag and Granada with two cases each.
Gensoli said that in order to avoid food and water borne diseases, Bacolodnons should practice the “Wash” or water, sanitation, and hygiene.
She said the public should use safe potable water sources for drinking and domestic use; ask assistance from the barangay for the chlorination of the community water sources; observe and practice sanitation at all times; and exercise and make hygiene a habit.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said they already inspected a total of 257 water refilling stations in various areas of Bacolod City.
Of the number, 135 of them are operating with business permit while 118 others are operating without business permits.
Tan said about four water refilling stations were also closed by the city.
She advised the public to get water for drinking only from refilling stations with updated bacteriological monitoring.
Tan likewise reminded the public to ensure that water pipes or hoses from Baciwa-PrimeWater have no holes or bandages as contamination may seep in.
“If water for domestic use comes from a deep well, whether by hand pump or timba, it should be ensured that water plates are not broken while washing, bathing or laundry should be done away from the water source,” she said.
Tan added that the water source should be at least 25 meters from other sources of contaminants like toilet and garbage, among others, saying that chlorination should be done regularly and dug wells should be tightly covered.
Each household should have its own toilet, Tan said, as she discouraged the use of open defecation.
“Sharing may be allowed provided that sanitation is maintained (but) all wastes should go into a concrete septic vault and not in waterways or bodies of water- creeks, canals, rivers and sea,” the doctor said.
It is also important, Tan said, that individuals always wash hands with soap and water before and after eating, food preparation, and caring for the sick; after using the toilet, washing or cleaning babies and adults and pets; after coughing, sneezing; and before feeding the baby.
Aside from that, Tan reiterated, the public should avoid eating raw meat, sea foods and vegetables contaminated with night soil and human wastes.
It should be washed thoroughly and cooked well,she said, adding that “we should keep or maintain the food hot or cold and keep it covered.”*