There have been 623 typhoid fever cases in Negros Occidental and six deaths this year, while the cholera cases in the province have increased to 20, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported Wednesday, November 3.
There have also been 457 acute gastroenteritis cases in the province this year, the PHO also reported at the 3rd Quarter Provincial Health Board meeting presided by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
A Provincial Food and Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee was created during the meeting.
Lacson said 11 of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental have created similar committees and he is encouraging the rest to do the same.
He will ask Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Negros Chief Executives Association president , to encourage the mayors to form their own Food and Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committees, Lacson said.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said typhoid fever, cholera and acute gastroenteritis are water and food-borne diseases.
The 20 cholera cases in the province this year were in Talisay City -7, Silay City – 6, EB Magalona – 5, Victorias City -1 and Calatrava – 1, he said.
The two reported cholera deaths were in Silay and EB Magalona.*