City health officials in Zamboanga City put the norovirus case count at 1,207 through Apr. 28. In addition, five deaths have been reported, four in children, due to the diarrhea but their cases were aggravated by co-morbidities such as pneumonia and malnutrition.
Local media reports, City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said out of 15 physicians under his office, seven have not been spared by the virus as they were also complaining of loose bowel movement (LBM).
A day after Mayor Beng Climaco declared gastroenteritis outbreak in Zamboanga, the City Health Office (CHO) has reinforced its information campaign to effectively prevent and control the spread of the viral infection, norovirus, which caused most of the diarrhea or acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases in the city.
The office has been saturating the different communities with varied information, education and communication (IEC) materials through health centers and places of convergence in the different barangays.
CHO Epidemiology Division Chief Dr. Ivy Iturralde said the aggressive campaign is focused on the practice of hand washing and proper hygiene which are considered most effective measures in preventing and controlling the spread of the virus.
The Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health-Manila are in the city to trace index cases of norovirus. Agbulos suspects that someone from this city who came from the United States or other European countries, could have brought the virus To Zamboanga City.
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