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The total number of casualties tied to the latest diarrhea outbreak in
certain villages in Alamanda, North Cotabato now counts up to seven individuals while over a hundred people under treatment for showing common diarrhea symptoms.
In an interview with the local press, Alamanda, North Cotabato Vice
Mayor Samuel Alim confirmed the death toll of the most recent diarrhea outbreak
in the place is now at seven.
Previous reports said more than a hundred residents have been taken to
a hospital for immediate treatment of suspected toxins from certain chemicals
that purportedly leaked from farm fields and spread through the village, eventually
contaminating sources of drinking water across the said village.
According to Alim, it is likely that a diarrhea outbreak is
transpiring in their place as victims show common diarrhea symptoms including
nausea, stomachache, vomiting and LBMs.
More people were reportedly rushed to the Alamada Community Hospital
and barangay health center due to same health issue.
Meanwhile, other patients were taken by their relatives to certain
hospitals in Midsayap, given the community hospital is already packed with more
diarrhea patients, to date.
The vice mayor further stated that as of Tuesday morning (May 13th),
there are still some residents taken to the community hospital after showing
symptoms of the disease.
Initial reports said some village farmers have sprayed certain
chemicals, particularly pesticides or insecticides, on their rice fields. Heavy rains then
fell last Saturday night and likely had caused these toxic chemicals/pesticides
to contaminate some sources of drinking waters across the village.
Local health authorities thought it is possible that these chemicals
have spread through deep-well waters, and eventually has triggered this
diarrhea outbreak.
The vice-mayor further said initial investigations conducted by the
municipal health officer Dra. Bandala, revealed the type of chemical/pesticides
used by the village farmers, likely contained some toxins that contaminate the
resident's drinking water.
Health authorities are expected to disclose final, official result of
the previous laboratory test they have conducted on water specimens taken from
different water sources of the victims.
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