DOH warns of coliform contamination in parts of Tacloban

WATER in some parts of Tacloban is good only for washing, like what this girl is doing to her stuffed toy, but not for drinking, according to health authorities. RAFFY LERMA

TACLOBAN CITY—Several water sources in this city and other areas hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas are contaminated with the E. coli bacteria that causes diarrhea and could lead to death.

The Department of Health (DOH) issued an advisory for residents of storm-stricken areas to first treat or boil water before drinking it.

Tests made by the DOH showed the presence of E. coli, or coliform, in 29 of 45 water systems in this city and elsewhere. Coliform is bacteria associated with human or animal wastes.

Health Undersecretary Jean Ubial said the likelihood of a diarrhea outbreak in storm-devastated areas is high because of the high number of water sources that were found to be positive of coliform contamination.

“We are strongly discouraging people from getting their water from existing water systems unless it has been purified or boiled for at least 20 minutes,” Ubial said.

While there were still no confirmed diarrhea cases in Tacloban City, the regional health office has monitored cases in Ormoc City and the nearby town of Kananga, also in Leyte.

Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco, regional health director, said her office has monitored 51 cases of coliform-related diseases in Ormoc and 47 in Kananga since last week.

The DOH, alarmed over the high number of water pipes found positive of coliform, has started distributing aqua and chlorine tablets or solutions to different local government units hit by Yolanda.

Water pipes in the city had been broken by some people frantically searching for water after Yolanda struck.

Marites Pascua, information officer of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District, expressed surprise over the DOH report about the presence of bacteria in the district’s pipes.

“We will immediately check this, I assure you,” Pascua said in a phone interview.

But in a previous meeting of the regional disaster risk reduction management council, Byron Carbon, of the Local Water Utilities Administration, had said water from faucets in the city is safe.

Health Undersecretary Ubial, however, said people should play safe by using the water district’s supply of water to bathe or wash clothes and not to drink it.