CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A government physician recently revealed that a woman who relied on “tuob” or steam inhalation therapy for relief from symptoms associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) died early this month.
The woman was swab-tested and tested positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Bernard Rocha of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, told journalists that he made the revelation to warn the public against resorting to therapies which have not been scientifically proven.
“It will not cure it, it will not even prevent it, especially if you have complications,” Rocha said.
He was referring to a 34-year-old vendor in the public market of Barangay Carmen who died last June 7.
The woman reportedly experienced COVID-19 symptoms but did not seek medical assistance, and instead turned to steam inhalation.
Rocha said the woman was already “very ill” when she sought medical attention. She died nine minutes after arriving at the hospital.
Four other members of the woman’s family later tested positive for the virus and were confined in isolation facilities.
Because of this incident, the local government locked down the woman’s neighborhood in Barangay Carmen for 14 days.
On Thursday, June 25, the City Health Office began rapid antibody tests for 500 pre-selected residents of Barangay Carmen, considered the epicenter of COVID-19 infections in the city.
The village has recorded 11 COVID-19 cases, so far.
The tests are free of charge, according to Dr. Joselito Retuya, the city’s chief epidemiologist.
The residents were asked to submit themselves for testing inside the Carmen barangay hall.
But health workers said the turnout was rather slow with less than 30 submitting themselves to testing on Thursday.