6 dead in diarrhea outbreak in Davao Oriental town

Six persons died and 38 more fell ill in a diarrhea outbreak in Manay, Davao Oriental, authorities said.

“A total 44 cases were reported – eight in Barangay Guza, seven in Barangay Central, five in Barangay Del Pilar, and 24 in Barangay Cayawan which was identified as the most affected barangay,” the provincial government said in a statement issued Thursday evening.

Of the 44, 26 have already recovered, ten are under home management, and two are still admitted at the Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital -Manay, it said.

Two of the fatalities, meanwhile, were found to have suffered acute renal failure secondary to severe dehydration.

Earlier, those who were rushed to the hospital underwent rapid antigen tests for COVID-19, and all tested negative.

Food poisoning was also ruled out, then the Provincial Health Office (PHO) confirmed a diarrhea outbreak.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has ordered an immediate investigation to determine what caused the outbreak.

Health personnel are set to conduct rectal swabbing of the affected residents on Friday to determine the cause, and to rule out possible cholera, the provincial government said.

For now, the PHO is providing chlorine and other water purifying tablets for 350 households in affected barangays.

Residents were also advised not to use their water for drinking until it has been confirmed safe.

The incident in Manay is the third reported diarrhea outbreak in the Davao region this year, following the one in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, in January and the other in Monkayo, Davao de Oro, in June.

The earlier outbreaks, confirmed to have been caused by contaminated water sources, left at least six persons dead and 245 others ill.