• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipality of Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental is addressing the reported diarrhea outbreak in Barangay Inolingan.
In a statement, it said there are 84 cases, affecting 34 minors and 50 adults, of which eight are senior citizens, based on reports of the Department of Health (DOH).
Some of the cases have been hospitalized.
This prompted the DOH, together with the Municipal Health Unit, to conduct an emergency medical consultation in the village on Dec. 9.
Diarrhea, or loose bowel movement outbreak, often called gastroenteritis or stomach flu, usually means a contagious infection from contaminated food/water or person-to-person spread, causing watery stools, cramps, and nausea.
Residents source drinking water from the faucet or water pump, based on the initial investigation of health authorities.
Water samples have already been collected for testing to determine the source of water contamination.
Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo and Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo personally inspected the structural integrity of a water tank, which provides potable water to residents in the barangay.
Diarrhea medicines and Aquatabs to purify water were distributed to the residents. | GB
