BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Confirmed cholera cases in Negros Occidental have risen to 28, with Talisay City recording the most number of cases at 13, as of November 7, a report of the Provincial Health Office said.
Silay City logged eight cases with one death, EB Magalona has six cases with one fatality, and one in Victorias City.
The barangay of Dos Hermanas has four cases, two each in barangays of Matab-ang and Zone 3, and one each in barangays San Fernando, Cabatangan, Zones 5 and 15, as well as Efigenio Lizares, all in Talisay City, PHO records further showed.
Cholera, which is caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria, is usually transmitted by contaminated water.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang however said they are looking into the possibility that cholera cases were also being transmitted via food, pointing out that based on the water samples taken, only one came back positive for cholera, which was in EB Magalona.
“When you are trying to establish food-borne transmission it is very difficult to establish as there are no specimens available for gathering,” Tumimbang explained.
He stressed the need for City and Municipal Health Offices to be strict, in connection with the issuance of sanitation permits to local restaurants and eateries, pointing out they should be subjected for testing, particularly those located near schools.
Tumimbang added Sanitary Inspectors should double their efforts, especially those in villages with a high number of waterborne and foodborne diseases.*
