The Philippines has logged 3,890 cholera cases since the start of 2022 or a 286- percent increase from the number of cases reported in 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
The country had 1,009 cholera cases from January to October 1 last year, the DOH reported.
“Cholera cases this 2022 are actually higher than what we reported even during the pre-pandemic years,” Dr. Alethea De Guzman, director of DOH’s epidemiology bureau, said in a press briefing.
Most cholera cases were tallied in Eastern Visayas (2,622), Davao Region (441), and Caraga (289). DOH data also showed that 52 percent or 2,031 afflicted with cholera this year were female and 18 percent or 692 were aged 5 to 9.
The DOH confirmed 37 deaths from cholera as of Oct. 1. The figure is 640 percent higher than the five cholera-related deaths recorded during the same period in 2021.
De Guzman said the epidemic threshold for cholera was breached in July in which the country recorded many cases. “But we see…during the last peak in July it went down, and likely to plateau over the last month,” she added.
The DOH flagged Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas for exceeding the epidemic threshold in the past 4 months.
The following areas also recorded positive growth rate of cholera cases in the past month:
• Central Luzon: Olongapo City
• Bicol Region: Camarines Sur
• Western Visayas 6: Catanduanes, Masbate
• Eastern Visayas: Eastern Samar, Leyte and Ormoc City
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, the World Health Organization said.
It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water. Most of those infected with the water-borne disease will have no or mild symptoms and can be successfully treated with oral rehydration solution.
Cholera affects both children and adults, and can kill within hours if untreated, the WHO said.