At least 21 residents of barangay Buyo in the capital town of Virac have been brought to local hospitals due to a suspected typhoid outbreak linked to drinking water contaminated by human feces.
Last week, concerned officials from the Municipal Health Office met with top executives of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to discuss the matter and recommend further actions to be taken by the local government unit, including the affected barangay.
Records show that as of Jan. 23, 21 probable typhoid cases in Buyo were monitored by the authorities, with 15 of them considered “suspect” cases.
During the same period, five other suspected typhoid cases were reported in Dugui San Isidro (3), Dugui San Vicente (1) and Dugui Too (1). All those who were stricken by suspected typhoid fever were treated with antibiotics.
Also called enteric fever, the infectious disease is caused by the salmonella typhi bacteria found in the intestines, blood and other parts of the body of the infected person. It can also be found in the stools and urine of an infected individual.
Health officials say that the bacteria can be spread by eating or drinking food and water that has been contaminated by the feces of an 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.
The affected individuals all showed the symptoms of sustained high-grade fever, headache, body weakness, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal discomfort, the MHO report said, with the patients 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 local government unit, through the RHU, immediate intensified disease surveillance especially those with fever and conducted a house-to-house information campaign in the affected barangay.
Together with the PHO and the Department of Health (DOH) provincial office, the RHU conducted consultations, provided medicines and distributed jerrycans and Aquatabs.
Water analysis at the different sources of water in the village was conducted, with the team providing barangay officials with chlorine granules for the disinfection of its reservoir.
Water sources found to be contaminated will be marked with signs advising residents not to use the water for drinking and cooking.
On the other hand, the barangays concerned were told to reactivate their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), intensify surveillance of those with fever lasting three days or more, conduct regular clean-up drive, sustain its Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) certification, and improve environmental sanitation.
They were also directed to encourage residents to boil or disinfect with Aquatabs, their drinking water is its safety is questionable; cook food well, with the food covered from flies and insects; avoid unsanitary street food; wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before eating; keep surroundings clean; and get immunized.
Aside from rationing potable water to Buyo, the LGU will also provide technical assistance in the disinfection of the water tank, conduct water analysis, inspect eateries and continue disease surveillance.
The Sangguniang Bayan will be asked to approve an ordinance providing for the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of the Municipality of Virac.
On the other hand, the LGU will call for a meeting with private clinic owners for the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern.
Last Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, the provincial Government’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) Team deployed a Mobile Water Filtration Unit to Buyo in response to a request from Mayor Samuel Laynes and in collaboration with the Virac MDRRMO.
The unit, a 22-stage reverse osmosis filtration system, will provide clean, safe drinking water to almost 2,000 residents.
Before installation, the Virac Municipal Health Office’s Sanitation Inspection team conducted a water analysis-bacteriological examination with the results showing that the Buyo water supply was unsafe for consumption as 6 out of 9 water sources testing positive for E. coli.
The effort is part of the Catanduanes Government’s WaSH Program, a joint initiative with the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Health Offices, and other agencies focused on improving water and sanitation services across the province.