BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN / CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
With four cases, including one fatality, a cholera outbreak was declared by Mayor Marvin Malacon in three barangays of EB Magalona, Negros Occidental.
The number of cholera cases in Negros Occidental have risen to 12, with two deaths as of this time, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang.
Malacon said the fatality was a 37-year-old man from Hacienda Manalo 5, Brgy. Tanza, EB Magalona, who died of septic shock from infectious diarrhea and severe dehydration on October 11.
Cholera outbreak was declared in Brgys. 3 Poblacion, Batea and Tanza, all in EB Magalona.
Of the 12 cholera cases in the province, there are now four in EB Magalona, five in Silay City, two in Talisay City and one in Victorias City, according to PHO reports.
The first cholera fatality was a senior citizen in Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City.
All were tested for cholera at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Tumimbang said.
Malacon assured all Saraviahanons that they are on top of the situation, stressing that they have already implemented stringent measures to contain the outbreak and to avert water-borne diseases.
Several water refilling stations in EB Magalona have been ordered closed by Malacon due to failure of owners to secure the necessary permits, and not for water contamination.
A Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee was also formed by the EB Magalona municipal government, that directed all owners of water refilling stations to subject their water samples to bacteriological testing with accredited DOH laboratories.
The stores are also being required to post the safety clearance on conspicuous places.
Of the 10 water samples sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the one that tested positive for cholera was taken from EB Magalona, while nine others also tested positive for other bacteria, Tumimbang said.
All the cholera positive cases were noted by PHO to have been in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental.
If cases of cholera or acute diarrhea is high in a certain barangay, there is a problem in sanitation, which can be traced to either lack of potable water or waste disposal, Tumimbang said.
Tumimbang advised local health offices to enforce a “zero open defecation” policy, as he also reminded them to closely monitor all water refilling stations, as well as restaurants, eateries and food kiosks.
BACOLOD CASES
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City CHO recorded nine confirmed cholera cases in the following barangays: Sum-ag and Granada with two cases each and Mansilingan, Alijis, Tangub, Handumanan and 40 with one case each.
Bacolod City Health Office Ma. Carmela Gensoli yesterday said Bacolod City is on the alert level for cholera with nine cases recorded.
Gensoli said “In order to avoid food and water borne diseases, we should practice water sanitation, and hygiene.”
Furthermore, four water refilling stations in Bacolod City out of 257 inspected by the Bacolod City Health Office have stopped operations due to lack of business permits. Out of the 257 water refilling stations inspected, 135 were found to have been operating with permits.*
