Disease outbreak in Sulu traced to dirty well

COTABATO CITY — Health officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said a well where residents of three villages in Pata town, Sulu province, were drawing water was the culprit behind the outbreak of disease that killed eight people and downed more than 200 others since March 27.

Dr. Kadil Sinolinding, ARMM health secretary, said the well served the villages of Sangkap, Likud and Kanjarang.

Sinolinding said villagers were unaware of the contamination.

“The contaminated open water well was the main source for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing of utensils, all in one,” he said.

Sinolinding said health workers disinfected the well and covered it to prevent the further spread of diseases. —Edwin O. Fernandez