NDRRMC: Cholera outbreak in Palawan not yet over

The cholera outbreak that killed at least 20 people in Bataraza town in Palawan province may not be over yet, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. In an update posted on its website Monday night, the NDRRMC said at least 562 cases have been recorded since March, with the last case recorded only last Sunday. "Cases continue to increase with the last case reported on April 17, 2011. Age of cases ranged from 1 month to 90 years old and the median is 8 years old. There were 562 diarrhea cases reported from March 1 to 17 April 2011, with Brgy Culandanum (in Bataraza) having the highest attack rate 52.28 percent followed by Brgy Tarusan and Rio Tuba," it said. Citing the findings of the Center for Health Development (CHD) in Region IV-B and the National Epidemiology Center (NEC), the NDRRMC said the cases slowly increased since March and peaking in the third week of that month. Of the 22 villages in Bataraza, 17 were affected with six sitios in Culandanum village affected, including Sitios Linao, Apad-apad, Pajo-pajo, Kadulan, Cabinbin and Bato–bato. At least 90 people were admitted at Rio Tuba Nickel (RTN) Hospital from March 1 to 31, it said. The NDRRMC confirmed at least 20 deaths in Culandanum village, with ages ranging from 1 to 50 years old. It added 35 rectal swab specimens from patients tested positive for Vibrio cholera ogawa, Aeromonas hydophila and Aeromonas caviae. Water samples also tested positive for Vibrio cholera, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae and Plesiommonas shigelloides. The NDRRMC said water chlorination was instructed and demonstrated to the indigenous people, while health authorities advised the boiling of drinking water. — KBK, GMA News