No deaths were recorded in Negros Occidental as a result of the Mt. Kanlaon eruption last June 3.

This was revealed by La Castellana Municipal Health Officer Dr. Gian Carlo Espeleta, clarifying that the patient who died was not related to the volcano eruption as the victim was already suffering from an advanced heart ailment even before the eruption happened.

The victim died at home on the day of the eruption.

According to Espeleta, out of the 4,000 evacuees the Rural Health Unit recorded, about 3,000 sought medical consultation.

Espeleta said doctors noted that most of the diseases are not chronic but transient.

These maladies include skin allergies caused by volcanic ash, fever, cough, loose bowel movement, runny nose, and abdominitis, among others, which could be due to stress, he added.

“There were only about three patients suffering from hypertension, and they were given medicines and monitored in the medical facility,” he said.

They were able to recover overnight.

Another hyperactive bronchial asthma patient was treated right after the eruption and also recovered after treatment.

All medicines given to the patients were free, coming from the Rural Health Unit, the provincial government, and donations.

The municipality bought medicines that were not on the list.

At the height of the evacuation after the eruption, a total of 12 doctors, 21 nurses and one midwife were deployed to the town of La Castellana to attend to patients, Espeleta noted.

These physicians came from other local government units and institutions.

According to Espeleta, they are monitoring gastrointestinal diseases in communities that could be acquired from drinking contaminated water from ash fall, although two water treatment trucks are already stationed by schedule in areas where clean water is needed. (PIA-6 Negros Occidental)