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InterAksyon.com
By: Angeline Valencia, Philippines News Agency
November 20, 2014 6:50 AM
 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol -- Alarming cases of diarrhea in Loboc led health authorities to check the water sources, including water refilling stations.

Municipal Health Officer of Loboc Dulce Budiongan confirmed the recent rise of diarrhea cases in two barangays, where some patients claimed they only drank mineral water bought from water refilling stations.

Budiongan said it alarmed her when several residents of Barangays Jimilian and Villaflor, and few from Ugpong, Alegria, Sawang, and Gotozon went to the municipal health office for check-up due to loose bowel movement.

The barangay captain of Agape also informed the health office that several people in the village had diarrhea, she added.

Many of the patients had been admitted at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.

Water check

Budiongan immediately ordered the sanitary inspector, Susan Calacar, to conduct water sampling on all water sources, including water refilling stations and the source in Cabadiangan area.

The Cabadiangan area has no water filter.

All storage systems, the water pipelines, reservoir, and water tanks have been checked to trace the source of the contaminated water that may have caused the rise in diarrhea cases.

As of posting time, health authorities are still waiting for the result of the water analysis.

During rainy season, cases of diarrhea would rise as rain water contaminated water sources, particularly those that have no filter or undergo chlorination, said Budiongan.

Instructions to water consumers

The municipal health officer instructed midwives and nurses to go around the affected barangays to advise the residents to boil their drinking water first, including mineral water from refilling stations.

Budiongan said boiling kills disease-causing germs that trigger diarrhea.

The nurses and midwives also distributed Aquatabs water purification tablets that the Provincial Health Office provided.

Residents are told to mix one tablet with 8-10 liters of water, which after 30 minutes would already be safe for drinking.

Water sampling on water refilling stations is done every month, but this incident prompted Budiongan to instruct the sanitary inspector to conduct another one even prior to the next schedule.

Water testing costs P170 per station.

Water refilling stations found positive of contaminants would immediately be shut down, Budiongan said.

The recent cases of diarrhea came from the lowland barangays, most of them in Jimilian and Villaflor.

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