Contaminated water caused typhoid outbreak - DoH

MANILA, Philippines - (Updated 7:10 p.m.) The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday confirmed that the typhoid fever outbreak in Calamba City in Laguna was caused by contaminated water found to have "low chlorine level." In a press conference in Calamba City on Monday morning, Health Secretary Francisco Duque revealed the results of the health department's microbiological testing showed organisms called coliform bacteria were present in some water samples obtained from the water source in affected areas. The test also showed that chlorine level in the water from the Calamba Water District was insufficient to fully disinfect the water and rid it of coliform. Dr Dennis Labro, spokesman of the city health office, however said that the test does not entirely put the blame on the Calamba Water District, which supplies water in the city, since contamination with coliform could has happened "along the line." Contaminated water samples were said to have been obtained in areas near the CWD-owned Bucal Pumping Station, a QTV report said Monday. The television report quoted officials from the Calamba Water District as denying that the water they supply is contaminated, adding that they have laboratory tests to prove it. The DOH since last week started gathering water samples from 18 affected villages in Calamba to determine whether the drinking water in the area carried salmonella typhi, which causes typhoid fever. While the first few water samples tested negative for the bacteria, later tests showed the presence of coliform, an organism that usually indicates the presence of other fecal bacteria like salmonella typhi. "The coliform bacteria is too general to say that what caused the outbreak was salmonella (typhi)," Labro said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. Labro clarified however that coliform bacteria were not present in all water samples, saying there were only "specific areas" where water was found to be contaminated. "May mga household na may lumabas na ganun ang findings at may mga business establishment na ganun din," Labro said. The DOH is now considering on forwarding the water samples to a private laboratory, which has the appropriate equipment to specifically ascertain the kind of coliform present in the water samples. Aside from baring the findings of the DOH test, the Health Secretary likewise urged Calamba Water District officials to coordinate with the agency in order to stamp out the spread of the fever. The Health department also recommended the proper disinfection and continuous monitoring of drinking water being supplied to households and business establishments. Residents were likewise advised to boil their water before consuming them. In his visit to Calamba City, Duque also met with Dr Eric Tayag of the DOH National Epidemiology Center, Calamba Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, and other city health officials. As of Sunday, a total of 732 residents have been hospitalized after showing symptoms of the disease while 1,272 more have visited community health centers to have themselves checked, Labro said. The DOH said that while the number of people ushed to the hospital have declined, they are not about to declare that they have the outbreak contained, adding that they will continue monitoring the situation until the week's end. Although more than two thousand residents have already been affected by the outbreak, city health officials maintained that no confirmed deaths from typhoid fever has been reported yet. Officials refused to confirm two previous deaths, including a 14-year-old girl, as being connected to typhoid since both have not undergone screening tests and autopsies. Labro however said they are still further studying the case of the 14-year-old girl, whose parents have refused to have her subjected to an autopsy. But Labro said they would still undertake "other investigations short of having autopsy." For his part, Sen. Richard Gordon, who is the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman, slammed the government's sluggish actions in determining the root of the widespread health problem. "Where did this originate? In water pipelines? Many people in 18 villages are affected and the government should come out and tell us this comes from this place, so that we can stop the outbreak," Gordon told GMA News in Filipino. The PNRC has been assisting local health officials in attending to hospitalized residents by providing free medicines, tents, and beds. Labro said that health officials were not immediately able to release confirmation of the water contamination since early water samples obtained from various sources tested negative for any bacteria. - Mark Meruenas, GMANews.TV