Stomach illnesses up in Pangasinan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:20:00 09/15/2008
LINGAYEN, Philippines—The number of cases of acute gastroenteritis in Pangasinan has gone up to 6,350 and at least 57 of which have been confirmed to be cholera cases, reports from a joint surveillance team of regional Department of Health and the Provincial Health Office showed.
The figure covers Jan. 1 to Sept. 9 this year.
Provincial administrator Rafael Baraan said the cholera cases reemerged after four years, when an outbreak hit the province.
Symptoms
Acute gastroenteritis and cholera are transmitted by eating food or drinking water contaminated with human waste.
People suffering from cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, experience sudden and frequent painless watery stools, vomiting and rapid dehydration.
The highest number of cholera cases was reported in three towns—Bayambang, with 16 cases; Aguilar, 15; and Bolinao, 11. These are concentrated in the villages of Tococ in Bayambang and in Baybay Sur in Aguilar.
The towns are far from each other and health authorities are still investigating the possible causes of cholera there.
High number
The three towns recorded a high number of acute gastroenteritis and cholera cases in 2004.
According to the DOH and PHO reports, Dagupan City has three cholera cases this year; Alaminos City and Bani, two each; and a case each in San Carlos City, Mangaldan, Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Sual, San Fabian, Anda and Agno.
Dr. Douglas Soriano, acting provincial health officer, said reports reaching his office showed that only one patient, a resident of Bayambang, had died.
But he said the number of cholera patients in the province was not alarming.
People suffering from cholera need oral or intravenous rehydration to replenish lost body fluids, he said.
The disease has been contained, Baraan said. He said health personnel were in the towns and cities where cases were reported for educational campaigns and distribution of water treatment supplies, such as chlorine granules and oral rehydration solution tablets. Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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