The Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (RESU-7) confirmed yesterday the presence of fecal coliform and e.coli bacteria in the wells and other water sources in sitios Bayabas and Lumboy in barangay Subayon, Toledo City.
Reynan Cimafranca, RESU-7 unit head said the wells were vulnerable to contamination because most of the households in the area have no toilets.
“They also don’t cover the wells. We already distributed aqua tablets to the residents and as of the moment they are using water from refilling stations,” he said.
The Provincial Health Office also had similar findings and identified sitio Piña also in barangay Subayon as also having contaminated water sources.
Confined
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cynthia Genosolango said they ordered the closure of the open well at sitio Bayabas and the installation of a water chlorinator in the area.
The PHO distributed medicines and vitamins to 15 households.
As of 11:30 a.m. yesterday, the RESU recorded at least 26 cases of fever and abdominal pain along with 14 admissions at the Toledo City Hospital.
Cimafranca said most of the confined patients had fever for nearly a month but haven’t consulted a doctor.
Subayon barangay chairman said the youngest patient is a two-year-old girl while the oldest is a woman in her 60s.
Close contact
Most of the patients manifested signs and symptoms of typhoid fever such as prolonged high fever, headache, malaise (weakness), loss of appetite and either diarrhea or constipation as well as abdominal discomfort.
Typhoid fever is contracted through contaminated food and water or through close contact with an infected person.
Treatments consist of antiobiotics such as Ciprofloxacin for adults and Cetriaxone (injectable antibiotic) for pregnant women and children
Cimafranca said results of the stool examinations of the patients will be released tomorrow or Thursday this week.
By then, he said they can confirm if the patients are afflicted with typhoid fever.
Yesterday, a male patient with a bloated belly of the Toledo City Hospital was referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC)
“He has been referred because there is a possibility that his intestine might been affected with the bacteria especially his belly started to bloat,” Cimafranca said.