The cholera cases in Negros Occidental hit six with a teenager from Silay City testing positive on Wednesday, September 28, Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said.
The 17-year-old female from Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, is confined at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH), he said.
The teenager is the fourth cholera case reported in Silay City. One was an 88-year-old woman who died on September 22.
Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, TLJPH chief, said the 17-year-old who was their first pediatric patient hit with cholera and amoeba was stable on Wednesday. ”We are just replacing the electrolytes of the patient now,” she said.
The two others hit with cholera are a 30-year-old female from Sitio Tinapok, Barangay Batea, EB Magalona, and 45-year-old female from Sitio Pasil, Barangay 6A Victorias, City, Diaz said.
Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez said the patient from his city is in stable condition.
OUTBREAKS
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said cholera outbreaks can be declared only in the barangays where residents tested positive for it.
“We can declare an outbreak of cholera in a barangay even with just one cholera case because for the last four years we had zero cases,” he said.
The local governments’ health units should closely monitor water sources, the governor stressed.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said the declaration of outbreaks is to raise awareness among residents of the need to ensure that their water sources are safe.
NO NEED TO PANIC
There is no need to panic, cholera can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by doctors, he said.
However, patients should seek early medical help so they can be rehydrated before their conditions worsen, Tumimbang said.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholera bacteria. People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.
WATER SAMPLES
Tumimbang said water samples from the barangays where the six cholera-positive patients are from will be sent to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for testing Thursday morning.
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego and Benitez also said they are having the water sources in their cities tested.
Gallego said he has also ordered monthly testing of all water refilling stations in Silay, and an information campaign versus cholera has started.*