• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang reported yesterday that Negros Occidental logged its first casualty of cholera for the year, a 74-year-old man in Brgy. Patag, Silay City.
This brings to two the number of cholera deaths in Silay City, Negros Occidental, since last year.
He died on January 13, a day after being confined and treated for dehydration at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Tumimbang added.
His case was confirmed to be cholera two days after, the PHO head further said.
Negros Occidental now has recorded four cholera fatalities, with the two others from the towns of EB Magalona and Murcia.
A water sample was already taken from Brgy. Patag, Silay City, by the Provincial Health Office to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines, for analysis.
Last year, PHO reported more than 70 cases of cholera in Negros Occidental, which was blamed either to contaminated water or food.
Tumimbang said they are not only focusing on cholera, but including other cases of acute gastroenteritis, which may also cause severe dehydration.*
