By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The number of amoebiasis cases in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City continues to climb to 230, data showed yesterday.
San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo said the cases are based on the number of patients currently admitted at the San Carlos City Hospital.
Gustilo said there were lapses in the reporting of cases by the City Health Office (CHO).
He could have declared a health emergency at an earlier time if he had received a proper report from the CHO, he said.
San Carlos City was placed under a “state of health emergency” on February 22, after a rising number of amoebiasis cases was recorded.
The city also recorded one fatality due to the illness.
Gustilo also confirmed that seven inmates in the San Carlos City District Jail have also been hospitalized due to amoebiasis.
However, a subsequent inspection and water test at the district jail proved negative for amoebiasis.
Gustilo said he scheduled a meeting with the San Carlos Water Works to discuss ways of addressing the rise in amoebiasis cases.
Water sampling in households, especially in those villages with positive cases, has been stepped up to pinpoint the source.
The city’s main line water system has also been subjected to laboratory tests, which “unofficially” showed a “positive” presence of bacteria.
The water samples have also been sent to an accredited laboratory in the province’s capital, Bacolod City, for further verification, and the results are expected to be released by Friday, March 3.
Meanwhile, Gustilo advised city residents to boil their water for 15 minutes before consumption or buy bottled water, and to keep their surroundings clean in an effort to prevent cases from further surging.
In an executive order signed by Gustilo last week, he ordered the city’s village chiefs to coordinate with their respective barangay health workers and to conduct an information drive for their respective constituents.
Amoebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica, which is spread through human feces. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, stomach tenderness, and occasional fever./DGB, WDJ