THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) listed eight towns and two cities in its Acute Gastro Enteritis (AGE) watchlist due to the rise of the food/water-borne disease in their areas from January to June 10, 2024.

The listed local governments are: Lingayen (300 cases), San Carlos City (255), Bayambang (204), Calasiao (179), Binmaley (170), Mangaldan (169), Malasiqui (166), Alaminos City (131), Sual (129) and Sta. Barbara (128).

Those aged one to four have the highest number of cases with 945 (male) and 732 (female), followed by below one year old with 327 (male) and 259 (female), while those aged 60 and above, afflicted were 206 females and 126 males.

The PHO recorded 4,076 cases or 12 percent higher AGE cases this year compared to 3,625 cases over the same time period last year.

The number of deaths, however, was 14 in 2023 but only eight in 2024.

Those who died from AGE so far were a six-month-old baby boy in Bani; a one-year-old girl in San Fabian; a six-month-old baby girl in Umingan; an 11-month-old baby boy in Urbiztondo; a one-year-old girl in Sta. Barbara; a three-year-old boy in Bayambang; a five-month-old baby boy in Natividad and a four-month-old baby boy in Dagupan City.

Acute gastroenteritis is a disease state that occurs when food or water that is contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms (such as Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio cholera, E. coli) or their toxins is consumed. Some of its symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. (Eva Visperas)

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