CASES DETECTED. An aerial shot of a relocation site in Santo Niño village in Tacloban City where most suspected cholera cases have been detected. As of Monday (Oct. 24, 2022), at least two persons died and 34 others were hospitalized due to the water-borne disease. (Photo courtesy of I Love Tacloban North)
TACLOBAN CITY – At least two persons died and 34 others were admitted to hospitals due to suspected cholera, the city government here has reported.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez noted in a press briefing late Monday that the surge in cases in both public and private hospitals has been alarming and urged families to ensure the safety of their drinking water.
“This is a very serious issue, especially that we are experiencing rains. We are checking all sources of water in the city,” Romualdez told reporters.
The city health office disclosed that a 10-month-old baby from Abucay village died last week of suspected cholera. The other casualty was a patient from the city’s northern village.
The city government is still gathering details of the second casualty who succumbed to suspected cholera on Monday while confined in a private hospital.
Both cases manifested signs and symptoms of those afflicted with cholera, such as a sudden onset of frequent painless watery stools, vomiting, and rapid dehydration.
City health officer Danilo Ecarma said that on Monday alone, 24 patients were admitted to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center and 10 to the Tacloban City Hospital.
About 19 of these admitted cases are residents of a relocation site in Santo Niño village.
Of all the cases in the city, only two are confirmed as cholera after a thorough examination, according to Ecarma.
The rest are suspected cases pending the result of rapid diagnostic tests from the Department of Health.
Cases of diarrhea have been recorded in the villages of Santo Niño, San Isidro, Santa Elena, Calvary Hill, and Marasbaras.
“Several residents are also suffering symptoms of diarrhea but (are) staying at home for treatment since their condition is still manageable,” Ecarma added.
Romualdez ordered the inspection of water refilling stations, especially those that have been regularly delivering drinking water to relocation sites in the city’s northern villages.
The city has 115 registered water refilling stations based on the record of the city licensing office.
"We will ask the help also of the police to check water deliveries in checkpoints. We are also thinking of restricting the movement of people in areas with high cases to prevent the transmission of this disease,” Romualdez said.
He reminded residents that if they are unsure of the safety of drinking water, they have to boil it for five minutes.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.
It takes between 12 hours and five days for a person to show cholera symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water.
Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated, according to the World Health Organization. (PNA)
