Lack of toilets linked in Badian outbreak

THE diarrhea outbreak in Badian town, southwest Cebu, which downed more than 150 since Friday was caused by bacteria found in human waste.

E. Coli bacteria and fecal coliforms were found in water samples taken from barangay Tubod.

The lack of toilets is linked to the water contamination, said Rennan Cimafranca, head of the Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit – 7.

“Only a few residents have sanitary toilets in barangay Tubod,” he said.

Separate tests done by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and RESU-7 both yielded positive results for e. coli bacteria.

IPHO chief Dr. Cristina Giango said that barangay health workers are doing the rounds in the community to seek out residents who may have been suffering loose bowel movement, and for them to seek medical treatment.

She said the situation is no longer alarming.

As of yesterday, only 10 patients were confined in the Badian District Hospital for diarrhea.

Even with the downward trend of diarrhea cases in the area, there is no room for complacency, she said.

Cimafranca recommended to Badian town officials the installation of a water chlorinator to treat drinking water.

Free Aqua tablets were distributed to residents who were advised to dissolve this in water or boil their drinking water for about 30 minutes.