KORONADAL CITY — The Municipal Health Office of Banga town in South Cotabato confirmed the death of a senior citizen following a diarrhea outbreak in Barangay Lampari that downed 50 others more.

MHO-Banga chief Dr. Ellen Quidilla, however, was unable to identify the lone fatality in Thursday's disease outbreak but disclosed that the patient died from dehydration.

Meantime, 38 of the patients are currently admitted to the Soccsksargen General Hospital while eight are at private hospitals in nearby Surallah town.

"Some of the patients are also being treated at the barangay station of Lampari," Quidilla said, adding that at least 25 of the patients are children who experienced vomiting, headache, and stomach pain.

"We have assisted the villagers and our municipal mayor led the distribution of rice and potable water. We also gave dextrose and medicines to the patients," Quidilla said.

Quidilla said the diarrhea outbreak could have been caused by contaminated drinking water from the nearby spring.

"We are still waiting for the result of the assessment by the provincial health office to confirm any possible contamination," she said.

She said the patients are now all in stable condition and the situation is under control.