Diarrhea outbreak kills 33 in Samar, nearly 3,000 persons fall ill

By Roel T. Amazona, Philippine News Agency TACLOBAN CITY, June 10 – The diarrhea outbreak in different parts of Samar province have already claimed 33 lives as of Friday, raising alarm among health authorities as 2,947 persons fell ill from this water-borne disease. The Department of Health (DOH) formed a task force this week to look into diarrhea cases in Samar provinces, plaguing poor communities since last month. Logo photo courtesy of portal.doh.gov.ph On Friday, DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Minerva Molon officially declared an outbreak in Catbalogan City, Sta. Rita town, and Calbiga town in Samar province. The DOH official blamed the contaminated water and poor sanitation as culprit. The health department has stepped up monitoring of diarrhea cases in the towns of Basey, Sta Margarita, Pinabacdao, Gandara, and Zumarraga in Samar. They are also closely monitoring same cases in nearby Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces. “Eastern Samar [...]