The typhoid fever outbreak in northern Philippines has hit 1, 262 people as the health authority ordered rush assistance to the medical resources scarce region, the health secretary said Wednesday.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III told a press conference that a blood test of 221 patients in Calamba city confirmed 27 cases of typhoid fever, a bacteria-caused disease that usually invokes severe weakness, lethargy and perforation of the intestines.
Duque said health officials and doctors are closely monitoring the conditions of the five patients who have developed complications of the disease. And additional 190 patients are confined in hospitals for observation.
"We want to be sure that there will be no further complicated cases," he said.
Rutelly Cabutin, the administrator of local Red Cross, earlier told Xinhua that the first batch of patients with suspected syndromes were admitted in hospitals of Calamba city in the tourist province of Laguna around Feb. 16.
The number of inpatient peaked at the end of February, she said, adding that many hospitals have complained shortage of medicines and other medical resources, facing the surge of sick residents.
Duque said the cause of the outbreak is still unknown.
Medical experts have suspected a contaminated drinking water source could lead to the outbreak but water sample tests conducted by local water supplier turned out to be "negative", Duque said.
But he said the health department is conducting a parallel water test to determine the water supply is safe.
He also ordered health departments in nearby regions to send over back-up medical supplies to Laguna.
Source: Xinhua
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