The outbreak of gastroenteritis in Dinagat Islands has finally been addressed more than nearly weeks since it was first reported following the onslaught of typhoon “Odette.”
“Days after a gastroenteritis outbreak across the province, the Provincial Health Office of Dinagat Islands reported that there are no more cases of gastroenteritis in the seven municipalities,” NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal told reporters.
After Odette hit Visayas and Mindanao on Dec. 16, 2021, various diseases such as gastroenteritis broke out in the affected areas with hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of food and water.
The peak of cases in Dinagat Islands reached over 100 patients including three fatalities, which was reported as early as Dec. 26.
The Department of Health (DOH) immediately sent augmentation teams to support the manpower of the provincial health office in Dinagat Islands.
Water filtration and disinfection equipment were also deployed to the province so evacuees would have a source of potable driniing watet.
After this, the cases has since gone down, according to Timbal.
“Cases previously recorded totaled to less than 10 but are now down to zero. This resulted from the help of strengthened medical teams and the steady supply of clean water and filtration/disinfection materials from various private and government sector as well as international donors,” he added.