GENERAL Nakar, Quezon – Six members of the Dumagat tribe here have died from diarrhea reportedly as a result of water contaminated after the onslaught of super typhoon “Karding.”
The Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) and the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) are investigating the outbreak that has affected a total of 38 individuals from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6 in Barangay Upper Lumutan.
“The DOH is saddened by what happened to our Dumagat natives where many have lost their lives because they were not immediately diagnosed and taken to our primary health care facility,” DOH-Region 4-A Director Ariel I. Valencia said.
“Rest assured that we are working closely with IPHO through our RESU to provide the necessary assistance in the affected barangay,” Valencia added.
The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) received the first fatality report on Sept. 26.
On Oct. 1, the Rural Health Unit of General Nakar successfully reached the affected area and conducted rapid assessment and follow-up investigation and were informed of five more deaths due to diarrhea.
“The first death had watery stools, abdominal pain, and vomiting, and was brought to RHU-Tanay but was already declared dead on arrival. The same symptoms were observed in five other patients from Barangay Lumutan, General Nakar in the previous consultation in RHU Tanay,” said RESU head John Bobbie M. Roca.
“Among the signs and symptoms observed in patients were fever, abdominal pain, watery stool, and joint pain, and some had coughs and colds,” he added.