23 fall ill inToledo; dengue possible

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Provincial health authorities ruled out typhoid fever as having caused 23 residents of sitio Bayabas, barangay Subayon Toledo City to fall sick last week.

Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), said 23 persons consulted with doctors at the Toledo City Hospital yesterday.

Some complained of fever and abdominal pain, while some had fever with cough and cold. Nine of them who had fever for several days were admitted to the hospital.

“The PESU (Provincial Epidemiological Surveillance Unit) administered a Typhidot test for admitted patients. All tested negative,” Genosolango said.

Dengue
In text messages to Cebu Daily News, Dr. Genosolango said a mandatory follow-up test still has to be conducted after three to five days.

Despite ruling out typhoid fever, the PHO and the Toledo City Health Office have yet to confirm whether the patients have contracted dengue.

Dr. Bonito Zanoria, Toledo City Hospital chief, said he suspected that the residents may have contracted dengue based on  their low platelet count result after the CBC tests.

Cebu Daily News tried calling Dr. Genosolango but calls to her phone were left unanswered.

Genosolango said in her text message that samples from water sources were taken from the area, including two open dug wells and an improvised spring.

Initial data
She said results are expected to come out after three days.

A PESU team met with Subayon barangay chairman Florante Lariba early yesterday morning to gather initial data.

Earlier this week, the residents personally came to see Lariba to inform him of their situation.

Medicines were given to the rural midwife for distribution, said Dr. Genosolango.

Genosolango said the PHO will closely monitor the progress of the case.