BACOLOD CITY – The City Health Office (CHO) raised an alert on Monday on safe food and water consumption after it confirmed a documented cholera case over the weekend.
“This brings the city into the alert threshold for cholera,” said Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division.
Latest report showed that based on the Sept. 16 result, the patient, a 37-year-old female, was confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here for five days due to severe dehydration.
In Iloilo City, high cases of cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingesting contaminated food or water, has been reported in the past weeks, prompting its City Council to declare a state of calamity.
Tan said that following the reported cholera case here, the CHO, together with the Department of Health, continues to monitor possible cases from communities and hospitals, and conduct water sampling.
“We are taking into consideration of clustering of cases in a particular area/barangay,” she added.
Tan said the CHO is also making recommendations and encouraging its implementation through the sanitation inspectors.
In its advisory, the CHO reminded residents to use safe, potable water for drinking and domestic use.
“Get water for drinking only from water refilling stations with updated bacteriological monitoring of their water and permits and ensure that water pipes or hose from PrimeWater has no holes or bandages as contamination may seep in,” it added.
The CHO also strongly discouraged open defecation, adding that each household should to have its own toilet although sharing may be allowed provided sanitation is maintained.
It also advised residents to 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 and sneezing; and before feeding the baby.
“Know your food sources. Avoid eating raw meat, sea foods, and vegetables contaminated with night soil and human wastes. Wash thoroughly and cook well. Keep or maintain your food hot or cold and keep it covered,” the advisory said. (PNA)
