Cholera has hit five Negros Occidental residents and an 88-year-old woman from Silay City died, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, September 27.
The 88-year-old woman from Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, who was admitted at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) on September 17 died on September 22, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.
The 88-year-old, who was living alone, was a high risk patient because of her age, he said.
The two other Silay City residents hit with cholera are a 22-year-old female from Hacienda Consolacion, Guinhalaran, and a 29-year-old female from Barangay Lantad, who were also confined at the TLJPH, Tumimbang said.
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego said he has declared a cholera outbreak in Guinhalaran and water samples have been taken for testing. An information drive on water safety has also been launched, he 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.
He said water samples from the areas where all the cholera patients reside have been taken for testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa.
If an area has had no cholera cases for four years and a resident tests positive, an outbreak can be declared in the affected barangay, Tumimbang said.
The declaration of an outbreak should not be delayed as it will lead to a delay in informing residents to take precautions, Tumimbang said.
There are a lot of Acute Gastroenteritis cases that have been reported in the province, and they are especially focusing on those hit with cholera because it is highly fatal, Tumimbang said.*