By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The number of confirmed and suspected cholera cases in Negros Occidental has now risen to 37, based on the new data released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) yesterday.
PHO data shows that the province’s Talisay City has the most number of cholera cases with 11, followed by Silay City with nine, E.B. Magalona town with eight, Victorias City with one case, and Murcia town has four suspected cases.
Cholera cases have also started to show up outside the 3rd district, with Bago City having three suspected cases, while Sagay City reports one suspected case.
Meanwhile, food and water-borne diseases in the province are also rising with 632 typhoid cases this year, compared to 197 last year.
PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said they have advised local government units (LGUs) in the province to step up their monitoring, particularly their respective water sources.
Tumimbang said Dos Hermanas village in Talisay City has the most number of confirmed cholera cases with four, followed by Zone 3 and Matab-ang.
Aside from water sources, Tumimbang said they are now looking at the possibility that the cholera cases were being transmitted via food, pointing out that of the water samples they have taken, only one tested positive for cholera.
However, he pointed out that even if water samples tested negative for cholera, it doesn’t mean that it is already considered safe, as the water may still be contaminated with diarrhea-causing bacteria.
“When you are trying to establish food-borne transmission, it is very difficult as there are no specimens available for gathering,” he explained.
The PHO head said the local health offices within the LGUs must be strict with regards to the sanitation permits they issue to local restaurants and eateries, and they should be subjected to testing, particularly those located near schools.
“They should be monitored. The same gina-reiterate ta man ang mga water refilling stations nga dapat i-strict nila ang implementation,” he said.
He added that sanitary inspectors should double their efforts, especially those in villages with a high number of food and water-borne diseases./DGB, WDJ