BACOLOD CITY – The local government of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental declared a cholera outbreak in three barangays on Monday, Oct. 17.
Mayor Marvin Malacon, in a statement, said that it is unfortunate that they recorded four cholera cases, with one fatality, in Barangays Batea, 3 (Poblacion), and Tanza, as per report of the Municipal Health Office.
Two cases were reported in Barangay Tanza, where the fatality lived, while case each was reported in the other two barangays.
The fatality was a 37-year-old man from Hacienda Manalo, who was admitted to the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Oct. 10. He died of septic shock from infectious diarrhea and severe dehydration the following day.
The first case was a 30-year-old female resident of Sitio Tinapok in Barangay Batea who was admitted to the TLJPH on Sept. 23 and had been discharged since and is now in stable condition.
The second case was a two-year-old boy from Barangay 3 (Poblacion), who was admitted at the TLJPH on Oct. 6. The baby was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration. He was discharged already and is now in safe condition.
The fourth case was a 60-year-old male also from Hacienda Manalo 5. He was admitted to the TLJPH on Oct. 13, with heavy growth of Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
Malacon said they have visited residents of the three barangays and urged them to make sure their food and water are clean. They were also advised to boil their drinking water or subject them to chlorination.