Lab tests confirm cholera outbreak in North Cotabato town

Digital illustration of cholera bacteria. FILE PHOTO

KIDAPAWAN, Philippines – Laboratory tests have confirmed that cholera caused the deaths of eight people and sent hundreds to the hospital in Alamada town in North Cotabato.

The town is home to one of the province’s tourist destinations – the Asik-Asik waterfalls.

Dr. Eva Rabaya, provincial health chief, said laboratory tests and analysis revealed that residents of at least four hinterland villages have been infected with the cholera bacteria.

Health workers were still determining, as of Saturday, where and how the victims got cholera, Rabaya said.

Dr. Mary Joyce Posada, chief of the Alamada community Hospital, said as of Friday afternoon, patients were still coming in trickles.

Vice mayor Samuel Alim said most affected residents were surprised it happened in their community since they have been drinking water from springs for years.

Cholera bacteria could spread and contaminate poorly prepared food and drinking water.

Following the outbreak, the emerging tourist destination, the curtain-like Asik-Asik falls in Barangay (village) Dado was closed to the public.

Rabaya said residents of Alamada, even in non-affected villages, were told to avoid taking drinking water from springs.

Posada said villagers were told to boil all drinking water.

So far, 438 persons have tested positive for cholera and 46 others tested positive for amoebiasis.

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