DIARRHEA RECOVERIES. The Davao City Health Office logs 153 recoveries out of 288 cases of diarrhea in Toril District as of Wednesday (July 27, 2022). The office said the result of the investigation would be delivered to Mayor Sebastian Duterte on July 28. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal)
DAVAO CITY – At least 153 individuals have recovered from a diarrhea outbreak in Toril District here since July 17, the City Health Office (CHO) reported Wednesday.
“The recoveries make up 53 percent of the 288 cases recorded by the Incident Command Center (ICC),” CHO acting chief Dr. Ashley Lopez said.
However, Lopez also noted that another death was recorded on July 22, bringing to five the death toll due to diarrhea.
He said the latest fatality was a 36-year-old man who also consumed a tapioca drink from a street food vendor on Rasay Street, Toril District on July 14.
“The patient could have suffered from bacterial sepsis, which resulted in complications and multiple organ failures. He reportedly did not immediately seek medical intervention at the onset of symptoms and tried to manage the symptoms on his own,” Lopez said.
He noted that most of the victims experienced manifestations of diarrhea after consuming street food and drinks on Rasay Street.
Currently, 39 patients or 14 percent of those infected have been admitted to hospitals; 63 or 22 percent chose to recover at home; while 22 or 10 percent are still awaiting confirmation for viral infection.
The ICC report dated July 26 showed that 97 patients or 34 percent of the cases were exposed to street food from Rasay Street, while 53 or 18 percent said they were exposed to the Toril public market.
At least 400 street vendors were subjected to proper food handling as they were ordered to temporarily cease operations.
On Monday, the authorities also ordered the closure of two ice plants in Toril District after it was found that they violated the city’s sanitation code.
Lopez said the final comprehensive report will be presented to Mayor Sebastian Duterte on Thursday. (PNA)
