DOH: Butuanon River in Cebu found positive for poliovirus

CEBU CITY –– Samples collected from the Butuanon River in Cebu tested positive for the poliovirus, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

In a press statement, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the DOH is closely coordinating with the World Health Organization for an appropriate vaccination response.

“It is important that we are able to timely detect any acute onset of paralysis in children – especially within our communities. We have evidence that the poliovirus continues to spread. Our aim is to promptly diagnose and treat all possible polio cases,” he said.

The Butuanon river, an identified major waterway in Metro Cebu, has a length of over 10 kilometers.

Its mouth is located in the upland barangays of Cebu City then goes downstream, traversing through several barangays in Mandaue City before spilling to the Mactan Channel.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said three major rivers in the city and its tributaries, would be off-limits to the public.

“We will declare the Butuanon, Mahiga, and Tipolo Rivers, and its tributaries off-limits to the general population,” said Cortes in a statement sent to members of the media.

The mayor said they would intensify their vaccination program and information dissemination to address the concern.

“While it is most unfortunate that this news came at the time when we are still reeling from the effects of COVID-2019, it is good that we knew of this the earliest in order for us to align our time and resources to address this concern,” Cortes said.

Polio is a disabling disease caused by poliovirus, which is transmitted when there is poor environmental sanitation and hygiene.

It can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be fatal.

Children below 5 years old are at risk of contracting polio.

For the past years, vaccination coverage for the third dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) has fallen below 95 percent, the target required to ensure population protection against polio.

The Philippines is also at risk of infection with poliovirus from neighboring countries where it was recently found to have recirculated.

According to the health department, complete vaccination is the best preventive measure against polio. All children under 1-year-old should complete their three doses of OPV and one dose of inactivated polio vaccine.

The DOH also called for all local governments to intensify the implementation of the zero open-defecation programs and to strengthen the call for environmental sanitation and personal hygiene, such as frequent hand washing.

The DOH advised the public to drink clean water and to cook food thoroughly.

Edited by LZB