Provincial health authorities are closely monitoring the town of Badian in southern Cebu after five cases of typhoid fever were recorded in a barangay this week.
Dr. Cristina Giango, head of the Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO), said the patients, all residents of barangay Calangcang, were taken to the Badian District Hospital.
Giango said they received a call last February 21 about the cases. But the full report was only forwarded to them last Monday.
According to the DOH website, typhoid fever is caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria and could be transmitted through the ingestion of food and water contaminated with human waste.
“Karon nga ting-uwan, palimpyohan unta nila ang ilang water source (I’m advising them to clean their water source),” she said.
Giango said that 86 percent of the residents in the province have sanitary toilets. This is one percent higher than the international standard of 85 percent set by Medicaid.
The province has provided medicines for the patients, Giango added.
Water samples were extracted last Monday by a team from the CPHO.
In July last year, the town was affected by a diarrhea outbreak that affected 133 residents.
This was followed by a typhoid outbreak in Alegria town whose water source was contaminated after the chlorinator was damaged by a landslide.
In February last year, the Department of Health (DOH) declared a typhoid outbreak in Tuburan, Cebu after hundreds of residents exhibited typhoid symptoms. At least 31 were reportedly hospitalized.
Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale has tasked the CPHO to provide medicines and attend to the patients who were affected by the typhoid.
Badian Mayor Robburt Librando was unavailable for comment as of press time.