Diarrhea outbreak in Baguio City contained --- DOH
The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday, Jan. 15, that the outbreak of diarrhea in Baguio City has been “contained” with the decline of reported cases.
"Biglang bumaba 'yung mga bilang ng mga nag-report na mayroon silang diarrhea or gastroenteritis, kaya magandang balita ito para sa Baguio City (The number of individuals reporting having diarrhea or gastroenteritis suddenly decreased, so this is good news for Baguio City)," DOH Spokesperson Undersecretary Eric Tayag said during an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
However, there were still lingering concerns as water samples taken from Baguio City revealed the presence of Total Coliform and E. Coli, indicating possible fecal contamination.
Tayag explained that the presence of E. Coli serves as a sign of fecal contamination from individuals carrying diseases.
He also mentioned that the DOH is awaiting results from laboratory tests on samples taken from hospitalized individuals during the recent outbreak.
"Maaaring may resulta na 'yun at ang City Health Office ang maaaring mag-announce nito pero patuloy pa rin ang pag-i-imbestiga kahit nasabi ko kanina na contained na ang outbreak base sa ibinigay na datos ng City Health Office of Baguio (The results may already be available, and the City Health Office may announce it, but the investigation continues despite my earlier statement that the outbreak is contained, based on the data provided by the City Health Office of Baguio)," Tayag said.
On the other hand, despite a significant number of reported cases of diarrhea in the past week, he emphasized that there have been “no reported fatalities.”
Tayag also assured the public that the major water source in Baguio City from the water district has tested “negative” for contaminants.
"Ang nag-positive po ay sa mga nagde-deliver ng tubig o ang water refilling station ng Baguio, so inaayos na po nila 'yan (The positive results came from those delivering water or the water refilling stations in Baguio, so they are addressing that)," he said.
Meanwhile, Tayag advised residents to wait for two minutes after boiling water before consuming it, especially if mineral water is not affordable as a preventive measure.
Difference between gastroenteritis and diarrhea
Moreover, differentiating between diarrhea and gastroenteritis, Tayag explained that diarrhea is a symptom, while gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea, can be caused by viruses or bacteria.
For bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed, while oral rehydration remains the primary treatment for viral infections, he added.
Tayag also highlighted that person-to-person contact and poor hand hygiene were likely contributors to the spread of the virus in Baguio City.
He stressed the importance of handwashing, especially after using the restroom and before handling food, as well as the immediate cleaning of vomited material to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Ongoing investigations are being conducted to identify the root causes and ensure the continued safety of Baguio City residents, Tayag noted.