Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis Outbreak Reported In Siargao, Dinagat Islands

The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday, Dec. 27, more than 100 cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in areas hit by Typhoon Odette. 

At a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH recorded 80 cases of gastroenteritis at the hospital in Dinagat Islands and 54 cases of diarrhea in Siargao Island. 

The DOH is verifying reports of 16 cases of diarrhea in Cebu. 

Vergeire explained that they are looking at water contamination as the possible cause of the sudden increase in gastroenteritis cases in Dinagat Islands. 

“There has been water interruptions in the area. The water pipes were damaged, and this could be the cause of contamination,” she said. 

“Gastroenteritis can be caused by many things, such as bacterial, virus and other organisms. We have to know what caused them so they can be given the proper medication,” she said. 

The DOH has sent teams of epidemiologists and disease experts to investigate. 

Some 1.5 million families or 4.6 million individuals were affected by Odette in Regions 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Caraga, according to Vergeire. 

She said 141 health facilities in these areas were damaged. 

‘Looming outbreak’ 

In a related development, presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao warned on Monday of a “looming outbreak” or health crisis at evacuation centers in Odette-hit provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, as he vowed to deliver portable toilets or portalets to local government units. 

“Poor sanitation, especially the improper disposal of human waste, can cause diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and even polio,” Pacquiao said, adding that a “filtration system” is also necessary to ensure clean water. 

The world boxing champion said he received information that “many people in some areas hit by Odette are desperate for drinking water even from untreated sources, including waterways that are also used for washing and bathing.” 

Pacquiao is also now scouting for suppliers of water filtration systems that can be tapped for untreated water sources to provide clean and potable water to evacuation centers and com-munities that have difficulties in sourcing their drinking water. 

He underscored the need for the use of portalets to “ensure the efficient collection of human waste, since improper disposal of human waste can pose serious health hazards not only to people at evacuation centers, but also to those in their surrounding communities.” 

The best option to solve this sanitation problem, according to Pacquiao, is to provide evacuation centers and affected communities with easy-to-transport and easy-to-assemble toilet systems that also allow proper disposal of waste. 

He is also now discussing details for the procurement of these portable toilet systems that use chemicals to treat human waste and turn them into harmless and odorless organic materials. 

Water gallons, filtration kits 

As he wished the public a merry Christmas, presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he has not forgotten the victims of Odette as he announced that thousands of gallons of water and thousands of filtration kits were sent to the affected areas. 

In an interview with radio station dzRH last Thursday, Dec. 23, Marcos said the water and filtration kits were in time for the Christmas holidays. 

“What is critical in the situation right now, which is few days after the typhoon, is water. That is why we sent almost 30 tons of water in different areas. We will send filtration kit next,” he added. 

Marcos also noted that filtration kits are very vital since a majority of the affected areas were having problems getting clean water. 

“These are exactly designed for sudden disaster where water supply is lost. This is very simple: you will get a pail, you will make a hole and put the filter where the water will pass through. Just fill the pail with water,” he said. 

The former senator added that a filtration kit can produce water for 100 people a day. 

Marcos also announced that he is sending a ship with relief goods to Palawan, which was also severely affected by the typhoon. 

The team of Marcos and his running mate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had earlier sent assistance to Siargao, Surigao, Bohol, Maasin, Cebu, Masbate and other areas hit by Odette. 

Noche buena, ‘ayuda’ bags 

Meanwhile, the Ang Probinsiyano party-list distributed noche buena and ayuda bags to 350 families in Bohol on Christmas Eve. 

Ronson Tumaliwan, an auxiliary officer of the Philippine Coast Guard and permanent resident of the municipality of Jagna, said many roads in Bohol remained impassable to vehicles. 

Tumaliwan added that assistance in many areas in the province, like Ubay and Trinidad, has not reached residents affected by Odette. 

“Thirty-seven died while many houses were destroyed in Jagna, and we also need assistance. That is why we thank the Ang Probinsiyano party-list because we in the outskirts received assistance. Thank you because we will have spaghetti for Christmas,” he said. 

Ang Probinsyano party-list Rep. Alfred delos Santos personally visited Odette victims in Bohol who had ready smiles despite undergoing a traumatic experience. 

389 deaths, 64 missing 

The number of casualties left by Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao yesterday rose to 389, while at least 64 people were still missing. 

In its latest tally, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the number of reported injuries also increased to 1,146. 

Those who died and were hurt due to heavy rains, strong winds, flooding and other typhoon-related incidents came from at least 18 provinces and localities, led by Bohol, Negros Oriental and Cebu. 

The NDRRMC said Odette displaced a total of 570,906 people, of whom 314,676 are still being sheltered in 1,179 evacuation centers. 

Latest data also showed that a total of 506,404 houses were either partially or totally damaged, with an estimated cost of more than P28.1 million. 

The NDRRMC said damage to infrastructure is now estimated at P16.7 billion while damage to agriculture is currently placed at P5.3 billion. – With Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan