DISINFECTION. Personnel of Bacolod City Health Office disinfect a deep well in one of the villages last week. Monitoring of water and food sources continues as more cases of acute gastroenteritis and cholera have been reported in the city this month. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Health Office)
BACOLOD CITY - The City Health Office (CHO) here continues to monitor water and food sources as more cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and cholera have been reported this month.
Data released by the CHO Saturday night showed there are now 486 cases, of which 30 were afflicted with cholera, an acute diarrheal illness.
The latest 23 cases, including 21 AGE and two cholera patients, have been reported from Dec. 4 to 10.
At least 17 deaths related to these two diseases have been confirmed between Sept. 11 and Dec. 3.
In a report, Dr. Maria Carmela Gensoli, city health officer, said in the past week, they continued the inspection of school canteens and toilets as well as water refilling stations and conducted rapid water testing and disinfection of wells in various villages.
Health personnel also assisted in the deworming of ambulant vendors selling in several areas around the city, she added.
Gensoli also recommended further regulation of water refilling stations through monthly monitoring and full closure orders for lack of permits or water monitoring status.
Gensoli said they also plan to assign sanitation inspectors to give technical assistance to the barangays in the interpretation of water sampling results.
The CHO will also conduct basic food safety courses to equip barangay personnel in regulating ambulant food vendors by registering them for ease of tracking, she added. (PNA)
