More than 100 people have been sickened by cholera in a barangay, or village near the beaches in the municipality of Oas in Albay province, according to an Abante report (computer translated). One individual has died.
The outbreak began Saturday when residents of the area started reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The patients were immediately brought to the Pio Duran Memorial Hospital and the Pantao district hospital for treatment.
The Provincial Health Office has now reviewed the sources of water in the barangay to be tested and their test results will be released shortly.
LISTEN: Cholera: The disease, the Yemen crisis and the vaccine
It was discovered residents in Barangay Badian are relying on a deep well as a source of drinking water.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms but, in severe cases, the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.
Albay is a province located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon of the Philippines.
Related:
- Philippines DOH introduces Vaccination Boys PSA
- Philippines: Bataan reports 3 rabies deaths, Dengue down in Baguio
- Outbreak News This Week: New fluoroquinolone antibiotic, Travel health-Philippines
- Cholera being investigated as cause of Philippines prison outbreak
- Philippines: 12 million people at risk for schistosomiasis, a major neglected tropical disease
