The Department of Health and the Provincial Health Office declared an outbreak in Calamba City, Laguna Monday afternoon after more than 500 people reportedly fell ill because of typhoid fever.
Aside from Calamba, the disease was also reported in Los Baños and San Pablo City.
The Provincial Health Office earlier reported a total of 241 cases of typhoid fever in 13 villages in Calamba from February 25 to March 1. Some 75 patients were taken in at the 50-bed J.P. Rizal Memorial District Hospital within this period.
Some patients had their own mattresses and slept on the hallway while others occupied chairs and tables inside the hospital chapel because of the lack of space.
At the Calamba Doctors Hospital, the number of typhoid patients has already reached 86.
Residents said they suspect that the contaminated water supply caused the outbreak.
Officials of the Calamba Water District, however, said that their water is clean and the tests have proven that the supply is negative for bacteria.
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