DOH to probe diarrhea outbreak in Quezon jail
11/30/2009 | 11:13 AM
Authorities have begun investigating a diarrhea outbreak in a jail in Quezon province that claimed the lives of at least four inmates last weekend.
In an interview on radio dzXL on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he expects initial results from the investigation at the Quezon Provincial Jail in Lucena City to come in on Tuesday.
"Iniimbestiga ng aking director sa Lucena sa Region IV-A, inaantay ko baka bukas ng umaga magkaroon ng report (Our director in Lucena City is at the site and I expect an initial report on Tuesday)," Duque said.
Duque said their tests on the water will look for signs of e-coli, typhoid fever or cholera.
"Lahat yan pwede, kailangan lahat ma-test natin (Those are possibilities, and we have to conduct tests)," he said.
Earlier, radio dzBB reported four inmates died after complaining of stomach pains and loose bowel movement before succumbing to their condition.
Jail officials identified the four as Alberto Tomarce, Federico Fordan, Wilde Gabito, and Edizer Pasion, 22.
Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dr. Agripino Tullas said the contaminated water came from a pump inmates use for drinking and cooking - which was near the inmates’ toilet.
Tullas said the drinking water was likely contaminated with coliform, a bacteria that can only be found in human feces.
The report said diarrhea affected at least 30 people, who are confined at the Quezon Medical Center.
Provincial health officials sent nurses to the jail to monitor the other inmates who could possibly be affected by the bacteria. - RSJ, GMANews.TV
In an interview on radio dzXL on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he expects initial results from the investigation at the Quezon Provincial Jail in Lucena City to come in on Tuesday.
"Iniimbestiga ng aking director sa Lucena sa Region IV-A, inaantay ko baka bukas ng umaga magkaroon ng report (Our director in Lucena City is at the site and I expect an initial report on Tuesday)," Duque said.
Duque said their tests on the water will look for signs of e-coli, typhoid fever or cholera.
"Lahat yan pwede, kailangan lahat ma-test natin (Those are possibilities, and we have to conduct tests)," he said.
Earlier, radio dzBB reported four inmates died after complaining of stomach pains and loose bowel movement before succumbing to their condition.
Jail officials identified the four as Alberto Tomarce, Federico Fordan, Wilde Gabito, and Edizer Pasion, 22.
Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dr. Agripino Tullas said the contaminated water came from a pump inmates use for drinking and cooking - which was near the inmates’ toilet.
Tullas said the drinking water was likely contaminated with coliform, a bacteria that can only be found in human feces.
The report said diarrhea affected at least 30 people, who are confined at the Quezon Medical Center.
Provincial health officials sent nurses to the jail to monitor the other inmates who could possibly be affected by the bacteria. - RSJ, GMANews.TV
