Public warned of water contamination
LINGAYEN— The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has advised residents to be more cautious when drinking water directly from faucets and other common outlets particularly especially during the rainy season.
“Along with the monsoon rains is the big possibility of contamination of our water sources,” said PHO head, Dr. Anna De Guzman, in an interview.
She advised the public to boil the water for three to five minutes before consuming it.
The public may also dissolve hydrochloride solution in the water as a disinfectant, she added.
She also advised residents that source drinking water from refilling stations to check the water analysis certification of their respective refilling stations.
Certification of water analysis of refilling stations is done weekly.
Meanwhile, De Guzman said local health centers have been tasked to monitor closely the prevalence of gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, leptospirosis, and dengue during the rainy season.
As of July 13, 2015, 4,929 acute gastroenteritis cases have been recorded this year compared to 4,692 cases over the same period last year. However, only one death was reported compared to four in 2014.
Typhoid cases are also higher this year with 355, as against last year’s 309 but no deaths were recorded in both periods.
Leptospirosis cases increased from 12 last year, to 16 this year; one death was recorded in 2014, none, so far, this year.
Dengue cases are slightly higher this year, 746, as compared to last year’s 741 and the number of deaths is likewise higher this year, three, compared to the previous year’s one.
The PHO is conducting a survey of schools, especially those with recorded dengue cases, to check if they still have olysets or treated mosquito nets provided by PHO. (Johanne Macob)
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