Pending confirmation through laboratory results, a typhoid fever outbreak has been declared in a rural barangay of Virac, with 15 of 21 probable cases considered “suspect.”
The three hinterland villages of Dugui are also under monitoring by the Virac Rural Health Units after tallying five other cases.
Caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria found in the intestines, blood, stool and urine of an infected individual, the bacteria is spread by eating or drinking food and water that has been contaminated by the feces of the infected person, direct or indirect contact with fecal material from infected people, or by touching something that is contaminated and then putting one’s fingers in the mouth.
Symptoms include sustained high-grade fever, headache, body weakness, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal discomfort, with the ailment treated with antibiotics.
According to the local health office, populated areas could be prone to typhoid fever outbreaks if it has limited access to safe drinking water and poor environmental sanitation, with its residents observing poor personal hygiene such as not washing their hands properly after using the toilet and changing diapers.
The Tribune tried to find out from the RHU through personal inquiry if any of the Buyo or three Dugui barangays are among the 30 Virac villages that had been certified as G1 Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) areas.
However, the abnormally stringent requirements of the health unit for the release of the ZOD list, which reportedly needs the approval of the mayor, prevented this paper from doing so.
In that case, it is assumed that residents of Buyo, Dugui Too, Dugui San Vicente and Dugui San Isidro are among the 16% of Philippine households that do not have access to sanitary facilities and the 11 million families do not have access to clean water.
It may be recalled that over a year earlier, in November 2023, the provincial government launched the Provincial Zero Open Defecation (ZOD), every household as well as all establishments, schools, offices and public places to have a sanitary toilet.
Local government units from municipalities down to the barangays are mandated to create and mobilize their own Local Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Task Force to take charge in the formulation of strategies and mechanism, and enforcement of penalties.
Non-compliant households may be penalized with reprimand, community service of one to five days and a fine of P1,000 to P1,500 while LGUs which fail to create and mobilize their WaSH task forces are also liable to pay fines of P5,000 to P15,000 depending on the violation.
On the other hand, establishments still without sanitary toilets will also be penalized with fine ranging from P10,000 to P15,000 and disciplinary action from the municipality.
But as the Department of Health itself noted a few years ago, providing each household with sanitary toilets does not entirely solve the problem.
Sanitary toilets, as well as the kitchens where food is cooked, need clean, potable water in order to prevent diarrhea and other infections of the stomach from contributing to the high rate of stunting and malnutrition in rural areas.
The Virac Water District is claiming that the barangay officials in the Buyo district are not receptive of its proposal to take over the water source and distribution lines and ensure the availability of clean water.
A visual inspection of the area by a sanitation team also noted that while the Sangguniang Kabataan provided trash containers along the streets, garbage abounded elsewhere especially in the yards of houses.
Clearly, strong political will and a commitment to the ZOD program is needed among concerned barangay officials, who along with their constituents could face sanctions for violation of the Provincial ZOD Ordinance as well as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
That is, if the provincial government as well as the municipal LGUs are really serious about implementing both laws.