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A MINOR died while at least 47 others are suspected to have contracted typhoid fever in two barangays of the city in the Past weeks. City Health Officer-in charge Dr. Kibtiya Uddin disclosed that per monitoring. at least ten people have contracted the disease in barangay Buenagatas and 37 others in barangay Campo Islam have been contaminated by the disease. Uddin said that a team of doctors and sanitary inspectors from the Department of Health (DOH) and her office have already gone to the two infected communities to lend health assistance to the patients mostly children and adults. Uddin said that blood, stool and water sampling taken from the patients and the Zamboanga City Water District water pipes in the contaminated barangays have already been sent to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for bacteriology examination. However, results have not yet been ready as of press time. However, Uddin revealed that at least four patients who have been admitted in the hospital were confirmed to have contracted the Salmonella bacteria that caused the typhoid fever. The city health official said that patients, to include women and children from age one year old to 30 years old were reported to have acquired the food and water-borne disease. According to Uddin, due to poverty, many of the victims chose to stay in their homes rather than going to the hospitals and seek treatment. She said that her office and the DOH have already addressed the situation by treating the patients with chlorempenicol antibiotic and iron. Uddin revealed that the disease's mode of transmission is due to contaminated water and food. She added that the bacteria could have seeped into leaking water pipes or contaminated food. The city health doctor advised the people to boil the water before drinking and wash their hands before eating and avoid eating uncooked foods as preventive measures. She said that some of the patients have contracted the disease since four weeks ago and chose to stay at home because they don't have the money to pay for the treatment. The team of doctors who went to the area included DOH, RESU Head Dr. Lorenz Sabido, Dr. Leslie Alviar Medical Officer V, Campo Islam District, Dr. Ric Angeles, CHO, CESU Head and sanitary inspectors. Uddin said City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos who is still in Cebu City has already been advised about the incident. (Nonong Santiago)
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