CHO: Contaminated water possible cause of typhoid fever
City Health Office chief Dr. Urminico Baronda yesterday confirmed that the source of water of three waterfront barangays affected by typhoid fever is contaminated.
This came after the initial water analysis they conducted. The water sample was further subjected for "bacteriological examination."
Baronda said the water samples were brought to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) to determine the kinds of bacteria present in the water sample. The water sample was taken from a tank supplying water to residents of waterfront barangays Zamora, Veterans Village and Monica, all in the city proper.
Baronda said the water came from the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and is stored in water tanks before being sold to residents. He did not identify the name of the owner of the water station where the water sample was taken for laboratory examination.
The water sample is contaminated but the health department could not categorically say on whether it isthe cause of the typhoid fever that affected the residents. The result of the bacteriological examination will determine the kind of bacteria present in the water samples and extent of contamination, explained Baronda.
Baronda said they have already requested the water supplier to stop selling water in the three barangays. They were also told to clean and flush their water tanks to avoid any disease after the water they are selling was found to be contaminated. While, the water district also conducted flushing of the water pipes that connects the three barangays to further avoid typhoid cases.
The people who sells water for the residents especially those using the carts also underwent "rectal swab." Rectal swab is made in order to determine if they are the carrier of salmonella typhi. The health department wants to zero in on the cause of the typhoid fever, said Baronda.
Typhoid fever cases in the city is already alarming. The CHO wants to figure out the source and cause of the typhoid fever and immediately contain the disease that already affected 217 people and four reported deaths, said Baronda.
The health department is following the 4 F's in tracing out the cause of the typhoid fever. The F's are food, flies, fecal and finger.Everything is being exhausted to stop the spread of the typhoid fever. The city is one step ahead before anything goes worst, said Baronda.