No typhoid fever outbreak in Baguio – CHSO
There is no outbreak of typhoid fever cases in the Summer Capital according to City Health Services Office (CHSO) head Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes.
She explained that an outbreak means a sudden increase in disease frequency or clustering related to time, place and population including a common identified source like contaminated water and food confirmed by a laboratory test.
“It warrants an investigation including disease confirmation through laboratory tests, and immediate prevention and control to mitigate its impact,” Brillantes said.
She pointed out that her office’s data on Baguio’s typhoid fever situation was from January to September, this year, which runs contrary to the definition of outbreak which requires a clustering of cases and a definite time and space.
At the same time, Brillantes claimed that not all cases of typhoid fever may have been laboratory tested and several may have been based on clinical symptoms which may mimic that of other diseases.
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium salmonella typhi and usually spread through contaminated food and water.
Symptoms include prolonged high fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea with some patients may having a rash.
Brillantes is reminding food establishments to always adhere to food safety standards like proper food and water storage and handling and advising the public to practice adequate sanitation like hand washing especially before eating. – Gaby B. Keith
