DOH to send team to San Carlos over amoeba cases

A specialist team from the Department of Health (DOH) central office will be sent to San Carlos in Negros Occidental to address the city’s rising number amoebiasis cases.

DOH-6 director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said personnel from the region have already been sent to San Carlos last February 22, but a team from the DOH central office Epidemiology Bureau will be joining them in a few days.

DOH-6 personnel who are already in San Carlos are also closely coordinating with the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO), as well as the City Health Office in San Carlos.

Dr. Arniel Laurence Portuguez, officer-in-charge of San Carlos CHO, in an interview with GMA News confirmed that they now have two fatalities that are possibly related to amoebiasis.

According to Portuguez, the parents of one of the patients who died, was told to bring her three-year-old child to the hospital as the condition of the child was deteriorating.

However, the parent reportedly relented at first, and when the parent finally decided to get the child to the hospital it was too late as the child was already severely dehydrated.

Portuguez said all severe amoeba cases are currently admitted at the San Carlos City Hospital.

Charlen Pol Bistis-Anlap, spokesperson for the hospital said from January 1 to February 28, they have now recorded a total of 257 patients due to amoebiasis, of which 57 were also diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.

Earlier, San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo said there were lapses with their CHO’s reporting of cases pointing out if he received a proper report, he could have declared a health emergency much earlier.

Gustilo declared a state of health emergency just this Feb. 23.

Amoebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite Entamoeba histolytica which is spread through human feces.

Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, stomach tenderness, and occasional fever.

The city’s main line water system has also been subjected to laboratory tests which “unofficially” detected presence of the amoeba bacteria.

The samples have been sent to an accredited laboratory in Bacolod City for further verification, and the results are expected to be released on Friday, March 3.

In the meantime, Gustilo advised the city’s residents to use bottled water or boil water first before drinking.

Amoebiasis can be prevented by boiling water for drinking; keeping surroundings clean; washing hands after using the toilet and before eating; and maintaining proper personal and food hygiene.*