LGU lauds health officials for quick response on suspected typhoid cases

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
March 15, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Samar Provincial Health Office (PHO) Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) is all praises for Zumarraga LGU and officials of Barangay Alegria, Zumarraga for the immediate action and management of suspected typhoid cases.

Marian Pantaleon, sentinel nurse said that while the number of cases seems alarming, the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of Zumarraga, Dr. Francis Langi immediately acted on the health problem.

It was reported earlier that some 110 rural folks of Barangay Alegria become ill with symptoms resembling that of typhoid fever. Some 27 of these patients were admitted to the Samar Provincial Hospital from March 7 to 12, 2008.

The hospital staff confirmed that it was one Barangay Kagawad who escorted the patients to the provincial hospital.

Dr. Langi when informed, immediately rushed to the scene, checked the patients and dispatch those needing more medical attention to the hospital. He himself treated the others who were not as worse as those rushed to the hospital.

Mayor Edwin Figueroa immediately authorized the distribution of medicines to the patients.

Barangay Chairman Mario Dante convened his Kagawads and declared the barangay in a state of calamity whereby he authorized disbursement of P20,000 for the medicines of the affected residents.

On March 11, the PESU team went to the barangay and discovered that only one water source supplies the drinking requirement of the whole barangay. Said water system although sealed may have been contaminated with flood waters coming from the mountains during the heavy rains that occurred in the region.

Laboratory tests are being conducted to determine if the water is indeed contaminated. Similarly, rectal swab has been done by the PESU team also for laboratory analysis.

Pantaleon said that typhoid fever should be confirmed by laboratory tests.

The PESU team also distributed stock solution of chlorinated water to residents to avoid recurrence of the outbreak. The barangay folks were also instructed on sanitation tips.

The PESU team also learned that only 10% of the total households numbering 100 have sanitary toilets.

With the combined efforts of the Zumarraga LGU, MHO, Barangay officials of Alegria and the Samar Provincial Health Office the medical catastrophe did not claim any lives.