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An outbreak of DIARRHEA had affected Barangay Butuan in Jose Abad Santos (JAS), Davao Occidental, affecting 32 residents, including an elderly man who succumbed to the disease on Saturday, January 2, 2021.
JAS Mayor Jason John Joyce, in an interview with SunStar Davao, identified the victim as Emilio Sumanday, 68, a resident of the barangay.
Citing the Municipal Health Office, he said that of the 32 victims, 17 are under 14 years of age, 13 are between 15 and 59 years old, while one is an elderly person.
He said the 31 victims are currently admitted to the Tomas Lachica District Hospital in Barangay Caburan, about an hour and a half to two hours from Barangay Butuan, where the outbreak occurred. Reports of diarrhea cases began on December 31, 2020.
All are in stable condition and are being monitored by health professionals.
Joyce also said no new patients have been reported since Saturday night.
Cause of the outbreak
Joyce revealed that the likely source of infection is contaminated water.
“Initial reports reveal that the water in that deep well where the community gets its drinking water is contaminated. It is located near a toilet and the toilet may have leaks,” he said.
Dr. Annabelle P. Yumang, regional director of the DOH-Davao Center for Health Development, said that a team from the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (Resu) visited the affected barangay to collect the appropriate samples and continue the investigation together with the Office Provincial Health and the Municipal Health Office.
The results of the examination of the water sample are expected after three days.
Yumang added that another 25 people are being closely monitored in the community.
Intervention
Joyce said the local government unit and its partners acted immediately after receiving reports of an outbreak on Saturday morning, January 2.
“We acted immediately on the emergency when we were informed of the outbreak yesterday morning. We prepare dextrose and medicines, and our rescue vehicles are also on standby in case the need arises to transfer some patients to other hospitals, ”he added.
He said that those who will be referred to other hospitals will be assisted by the LGU-JAS, the provincial government, the congressional office and the Dumper Party list.
The mayor also said that the LGU will bear all the costs of medication and transportation for patients.
Meanwhile, DOH-Davao had also provided basic supplies such as drugs and intravenous fluids for use by the district hospital.
“We also gave drums to store water and chlorine granules to the affected barangay,” Yumang said.
Resu Head Dra. Cleo Fe Tabada is also in close coordination with the Municipal Health Officer Dra. Amparo Lachica for the initial investigation and rapid evaluation of the area, the health status of the affected families, the needs of the health facilities and the whole community.
Joyce explained that cases of diarrhea are always reported in these areas each year.
“But dili siya maka-it will affect a large number of people in a single barangay (but it will not affect a large number of people in a barangay),” he said.
When asked about LGU’s plans to provide better access to safe drinking water to Barangay Butuan and other nearby barangays, Joyce explained that it has been challenging since then due to the location of the barangays.
“Installing a water district is the most ideal to solve these problems, but it is impossible due to the geographic location of our coastal city,” he said.
He said that for now, residents are constantly being reminded to boil their water, make sure nearby facilities don’t leak, use improved sanitation and wash their hands with soap.
A Municipal Interagency Task Against Diarrhea was also created and on standby at the command center in the Municipal Gymnasium to address all concerns related to diarrhea in the community.
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