Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City declares health emergency

HOSPITAL VISIT San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo checks on the patients downed by amoebiasis at the San Carlos City Hospital on Feb. 1. —Photo from RENATO GUSTILO FACEBOOK

BACOLOD CITY—A state of health emergency was declared in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental as cases of amoebiasis in the locality continued to increase.

San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo announced the declaration under Executive Order No. 79 on Feb. 23 to help contain the spread of the microbes, stressing that anyone, young and old, is prone to contracting food and waterborne diseases, including amoebiasis.

“I passed an executive order to direct strong coordination among barangays in spreading public awareness regarding this surge and how to prevent it,” he said in a statement.

Based on the local government’s data, there were 203 cases of amoebiasis in 10 villages from Jan. 1 to Feb. 24, 2023, with Barangays Buluangan and Rizal recording the most number of amoebiasis, according to Gustilo.

The number of amoebiasis cases in the city last year was not available on Friday but Gustilo said it was not as many compared to this year.

Mobilize resources

Government agencies and villages in the city were directed to cooperate and mobilize necessary resources to combat the disease.

Gustilo, who had visited the government-run San Carlos City Hospital on Feb. 1 to check on amoebiasis patients, said water samples for laboratory tests had been taken from water refilling stations and from the homes of those afflicted with amoebiasis.

“It is also possible that the amoebiasis came from food,” he added.

Gustilo said the City Health Office and the San Carlos City Hospital have been advising residents through social media to be cautious of the surge in amoebiasis cases.

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