BACOLOD CITY - The city government of Silay in Negros Occidental has declared a cholera outbreak in Barangay Guinhalaran this week following the death of an 88-year-old woman last week.
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego said she declared an outbreak in Guinhalaran on a recommendation of Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer.
The elderly woman, who was living alone, passed away at Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City on Sept. 22.
Although the initial cause of her death was not cholera, she tested positive for cholera in the confirmatory test.
A water sample has already been taken from the said village for laboratory tests to be sent to Manila, according to Gallego.
The City Health Office (CHO) also conducted inspection of the city’s water sources including the refilling stations.
Dr. Tumimbang said they will help the CHO in addressing the case.
"We concentrated our effort where there are positive cases, that's why we went there - to make recommendations on what they should do. We recommended declaring an outbreak," Tumimbang said.
The Provincial Health Office also recommended the activation of the Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee, checking of water sources, and implementation of chlorination of water sources in the area that has been identified with cholera cases, as well as boiling the drinking water.
Meanwhile, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged all local government units as well as the public to practice safe acquisition and consumption of drinking water as a precautionary measure against acute gastroenteritis (AGE).
Lacson said that AGE is a preventable disease that requires people to be precautious about the water they use, practicing good sanitation and hygiene in the community.