MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it will deploy a team of epidemiologists to look into the reported amoebiasis outbreak in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, where a state of emergency was declared.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, clarified that the department is still in the process of verifying the said outbreak.
“We are now sending our team here from the epidemiology bureau to go to our Region VI office para po matulungan ang ating (to help our) regional epidemiology and surveillance units,” said Vergeire.
“They will go to San Carlos tomorrow to verify this event,” she added.
Vergeire said a total of 189 cases have been tested, with only 60 percent — the DOH did not explicitly say the exact number — positive for amoebiasis, while the remaining cases either tested negative or positive for a different bacteria.
Vergeire explained that a major cause for the spread of amoebiasis is contaminated water, and remind residents of San Carlos City to boil drinking water to ensure that it is safe to drink.
She added that the DOH is also set to coordinate with the local government of San Carlos City, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as other concerned government agencies to address the possible contamination of the city’s water source.
Vergeire explained that symptoms of amoebiasis include loose bowel movement and fever.
“Nakamobilize na po ang mga health units sa San Carlos City, magbibigay na rin po ng abiso sa mga komunidad para alam nila kung paano gagawing safe ang pag-inom ng tubig, at ano ang gagawin ‘pag sila ay naka-experience ng ganitong sintomas,” said Vergeire.
(The health units in San Carlos City have already been mobilized, they will also inform communities of ways to make drinking water safe, and what to do if they experience symptoms.)