23 die in Palawan town diarrhea outbreak

MANILA, Philippines—Police said Wednesday that the number of fatalities in the diarrhea outbreak in Bataraza town in Palawan as of Tuesday afternoon has reached more than 20 persons.

Mimaropa police spokesman Superintendent Gregorio Olaguer cited reports from rural health units and town officials from the said areas saying 23 people have died of diarrhea. He said the victims became sick after drinking contaminated water.

Olaguer said the sick were temporarily brought to Sitio (sub-village) Linao Elementary School in Culandanum village in Bataraza town, Palawan.

But Dr. Eric Tayag from the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health said they only know of 20 deaths from the 114 cases the Center for Health Development’s regional office.

The DoH has sent a medical team to help residents with diarrhea.

Olaguer said that Bataraza police have been securing the members of the rural health unit conducting a medical mission in the area.