ZAMBOANGA CITY, 17 September 2007 — Two people had died and five dozens more were infected with a still unknown disease in two remote villages in the southern Philippines, health officials said yesterday.
Health workers and doctors rushed to North Upi town in the province of Shariff Kabunsuan where at least 47 villagers fell sick.
Doctors yesterday set up temporary emergency stations in the village of Tubuan and Lahangkup to treat the sick.
“Those who are sick were suffering from diarrhea, bloody diarrhea and two people have already died, a girl and an adult and at least 57 others are also infected,” Julie Villadolid, of the autonomous Muslim region’s Department of Health.
Health workers suspect contaminated water as the culprit. Villagers get their water from springs, Villadolid said. “We have taken rectal swab from the sick and water samples from mountain springs to determine the cause of the outbreak of diseases and diarrhea,” she said.
Villadolid said they are still awaiting the results of laboratory tests.
Escherichia coli bacteria are a leading cause of bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and especially in people who have another illness. Most E. coli infections come from drinking contaminated water and milk from animals such as goats and buffaloes.
Just this year, at least 18 people died from viral gastroenteritis in Zamboanga City and Basilan Island.
Gastroenteritis is an acute infectious syndrome of the stomach lining and intestines and health experts said the symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
