The diarrhea outbreak that claimed 81 lives and afflicted 9,432 in Eastern Visayas is finally over, the Department of Health declared Tuesday.
According to the DOH, the decline resulted from its “strong message” that diarrhea kills if left untreated, a case seen in Samar that recorded 50 deaths or the highest in the figure.
The last recorded mortality in the region was on July 10.
“For the past three weeks, diarrhea cases have steadily declined,” said Minerva Molon, Regional Director of DoH.
Other areas that listed cases are Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Leyte.
The region saw the recent surge of diarrhea as the summer heat dried some of its drinking water sources which forced residents to compromise from unclean water. Consecutive fiesta celebrations also prompted person-to-person transmission and improper preparation of food.
Aside from raising awareness on the disease, Molon said the end of the outbreak is caused by distribution of medicines and aquatabs or water disinfectant tablets, and the assistance of non-government organizations and local government units.
“We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the diarrhea will not plague these communities again,” Molon said.
To avoid future outbreaks, Molon urged LGUs to enact projects that will improve the water supply in the region.
Diarrhea is the third leading cause of child illness and the fourth leading cause of deaths among children below five years. Almost 10,000 or 12 percent of patients die every year, according to Unicef report.
It is also one of the primary causes why children miss school, the report read.
Meanwhile, in Cotabato City, health providers in Maguindanao are working double time to prevent an outbreak of dengue in the province, health officials said.
“If we do not act collectively, chances are we will be up for a bigger headache,” Dr. Tahir Sulaik, Maguindanao health chief, told reporters in the vernacular.
“We already have six deaths since January,” he said, adding that dengue is a preventable disease. “One case of dengue should send alarm to our people,” he added.
Sulaik, also head of Integrated Provincial Health Office, said from January to first week of August, 428 dengue cases have been reported, about six percent higher as compared to the same period last year.
Sulaik is now seeking the help of the Maguindanao provincial government and municipal officials to join the province-wide campaign to eradicate dengue.
“We should destroy the breeding sites of dengue carrying mosquitoes which are common in our homes,” he said.
Citing reports from municipal health office, Sulaik said he was sad that most of the 428 dengue patients sought medical attention when the health condition was critical.
“We should not wait for a minute more, a day or two of fever is possible indication of dengue, so patients must be brought to the hospital as soon as possible,” Sulaik said.
“We are seeking the help of local officials in destroying breeding sites of dengue carrying mosquitoes in their communities, we should not wait for one patient dying before we act,” he told reporters.
Maguindanao, a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has 36 municipalities.