‘Typhoid’ kills 2 in Pinamungajan town

TWO people died of suspected typhoid fever in barangay Camugao, Pinamungajan town, midwestern Cebu last week, the town’s municipal health office said yesterday.
Municipal health officer Dr. Sheila Faciol identified the victims as Marivic Macalipay, 16 and Eduardo Caniban, 27, both residents of barangay Camugao.
She said the water reservoir was contaminated with fecal coliform caused by residents washing their laundry near the area. Dr. Faciol said they recorded 10 to 15 cases of suspected typhoid fever.
But she said only the Department of Health (DOH) can declare an outbreak.
“We gave the the households chlorine and chlorine tablets to make the water safe for consumption,” Dr. Faciol said.
Confined
Faciol said Macalipay and Caniban, both relatives, suffered fever for more than a month.
Macalipay died at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) while Caniban died at the Pinamungajan District Hospital.
Dr. Faciol said Caniban ignored the doctor’s order to stay at the hospital in favor of staying at home, resulting in his death.
She said they’re monitoring another patient from the same area who has been confined in a private hospital in Cebu City with typhoid fever symptoms.
Typhoid fever is caused by consumption of contaminated food and water or through close contact with someone infected by typhoid.
Signs and symptoms include sustained high fever, headache, malaise (weakness), anorexia (loss of appetite), either diarrhea or constipation and abdominal discomfort.
Treatment includes antiobiotics such as ciprofloxacin for adults and cetriaxone (injectable antibiotic) for pregnant women and children.
People are advised to boil water first before drinking and cooking food well and covering them to prevent contamination from flies. They should also wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating./Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag