Capiz remains untouched by calamity-related disease outbreaks
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Roxas City (9 July) -- Capiz has no disease outbreak due to the recent calamity that hit the province.
According to health officials here, based on their intensive surveillance of calamity-related diseases, "there is no disease outbreak in the province so far."
Dr. Samuel Delfin, Officer-In-Charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Capiz disclosed that from the onset of typhoon "Frank" up to July 6, the total cases of cough without fever totaled 788 while 685 cases of cough with fever were recorded.
Delfin noted that said cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) are common during calamity like typhoon. However, the cases are not alarming since the ailment is not clustered in one specific area only. He explained that the ARI case usually lasts for 2 to 3 days only.
On the other hand, Capiz has a total of 296 cases of diarrhea, 151 cases of dermatitis and 9 cases of conjunctivitis, he said.
Delfin also said that so far, the province has not recorded any case of leptospirosis.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has earlier ordered health officials here to conduct disease surveillance to monitor the effects of the recent typhoon devastation.
The DOH central office has also sent two doctors to Capiz to help PHO doctors and DOH representatives in Capiz in the conduct of said surveillance immediately after typhoon Frank hardly hit the province.
Meanwhile, the DOH Western Visayas team is continuously monitoring the situation. A 24-hour operation center was activated and regular updates are sent to the DOH central office and to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). (PIA) [top]
