17 feared dead as diarrhea hits Palawan

At least 17 members of the indigenous Pala'wan community from Barangay Culandanum in Bataraza town in Palawan province are feared dead after a diarrhea outbreak in the area, a local health official said Monday. Provincial health officer Dr. Ed Cruz told GMA News Online that the victims were reported to have died and more are believed to be suffering from diarrhea due to polluted water. No official count has been released by the municipal health office of Bataraza and a health team is on its way to the site, he said. The estimated number of those feared dead was based on information obtained from village officials there, Cruz added. Cruz said the diarrhea outbreak may have been caused by contaminated water sources, as it has been raining in the area since last week. He said the health team dispatched to the area will collect water samples, which will be sent to a laboratory for examination. He added that the Health Department is having difficulty reaching the barangay, which is located in a remote area in southern Palawan about five hours' walk from the center of Bataraza town. Cruz said poor sanitation has been a health concern for members of the indigenous community, which often uses free-flowing water for their everyday needs. Residents of the barangay were warned not to drink water from the area without boiling it first, Cruz said. According to the World Health Organization website, diarrhea is the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is normal for the individual. It is usually a symptom of gastrointestinal infection, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking water, or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene. Severe diarrhea leads to fluid loss and may be life-threatening, particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity, the WHO added. DOH warning Meanwhile, the Health Department issued a warning to the public to be wary of diarrhea and other diseases that may strike during the summer. Radio dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa reported that such diseases include food- and water-borne ailments like cholera, typhoid, and Hepatitis-A, as well as food poisoning. The public was also warned against sore eyes and measles, as well as mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. Holiday makers were also advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight in order to prevent heat stroke. — with Candice Montenegro/RSJ/YA, GMA News