Xinhua
A 12-year-old boy, a 3-month-old baby boy, a 71-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman died this week from acute diarrhea, suspected cholera infection, and symptoms of the disease, including frequent drainage, according to the Philippine News Agency. Defecation, fever, vomiting, and severe dehydration, but were not tested.
As of the 26th, the Tacloban City Health Department has tested samples from 80 patients with acute diarrhea, of which 10 were confirmed to be infected with Vibrio cholerae. Health department official Danilo Ekama said a cholera outbreak can be declared as long as one case is confirmed.
Cholera is an acute infectious disease that is mainly transmitted through unclean water and food. Severe and delayed treatment can lead to death. The Tacloban city government has collected 56 samples from 115 water stations and will release the test results soon.
Data from the Philippine Department of Health showed that from September 11 to October 8, a total of 245 cholera cases were reported nationwide, including 37 deaths. As of October 8, a total of 3,980 people in the Philippines were infected with cholera this year, a 270 percent increase from the same period last year. (End) (Li Fuyu)
Keywords: cholera, Tacloban