BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Health -Western Visayas is closely monitoring water in La Castellana, Negros Occidental after samples from 13 sources tested positive for contamination following the eruption of Kanlaon volcano early this month.Despite this, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH-Western Visayas director, said on Thursday, June 27, that there are no major diarrheal cases in the town.
“Na-alarm lang kami because of the result kasi puwede itong maging dahilan ng outbreak ,” Suba-an said, adding that they want to prevent an outbreak of diseases. Suba-an said that they have conducted measures such as continued chlorination of water sources and health education on proper handwashing and cleanliness, disinfection of water containers using aquatabs and chlorine before distribution, water testing for safe drinking, and continuous monitoring of chlorine residual for all drinking water in the evacuation center.
They have also coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Engineering Department for water supply and conduct of specimen collection by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of symptomatic individuals. Suba-an said that they have received cases of stomach and abdominal pain in La Castellana and have conducted intervention.The eruption greatly affected La Castellana, especially barangays on the foot of the volcano due to ashfall and lahar or mudflow.