DOH warns vs water-borne diseases

MANILA - After the hunger and cold, diseases now threaten flood victims.

The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against a potential increase in the number of water- and food-borne diseases following the epic flooding that submerged large parts of Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon.

At the same time, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has instructed all government hospitals in Metro Manila to provide medical services to all flood victims for free.

Dr. Baby Banatin, director of the DOH’s Health Emergency Management Staff, said the health chief has advised government hospitals not to collect any charges from flood victims seeking medical treatment.

“We want to tell the public that government hospitals will be attending to their needs, at least the basic medical services,” Banatin said. 
 
There are at least 20 hospitals under the control of the DOH in Metro Manila, including the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital, both in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City; East Avenue Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, all in Quezon City; and, Tondo Medical Center in Manila.

Banatin said 6 medical teams from the DOH have been dispatched to Quezon City, Marikina, and Pasig to augment the medical missions of local government units.

She said the DOH is also currently distributing antibiotics and medicines for colds, coughs and common illnesses and infections brought about by the flooding.

Banatin said the supply of medicines so far is sufficient, although the DOH is readying emergency procurement for basic drugs.

Vigilance vs food poisoning

Meanwhile, health authorities have advised the public to be extra vigilant of their food and water sources, warning that diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, chicken pox, influenza and leptospirosis is expected to spike following the flooding brought about by tropical storm Ondoy.

Ondoy unleashed tons of rains in Metro Manila over the weekend, spilling record-level water levels in four decades.

Dr. Enrique Tayag, chief of the DOH National Epidemiology Center, said dengue fever incidence is expected to rise a month after the flooding. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which feeds during the day.

Banatin said the public is advised to boil their drinking water, “a least five minutes more after reaching boiling point,” if the water source is suspect.

As to food consumption, Banatin said it would be safer to avoid foods that are cooked outside, “especially if you are unsure how these are cooked.”

Tayag said evacuees should also be careful about consuming donated foods to avoid food poisoning.