Suspected cholera downs 36 in Tantangan

KORONADAL CITY -- Health authorities in a remote village of Tantangan, South Cotabato have ordered all residents to boil drinking water and avoid taking food sold at roadsides. Dr. Renato Ureta, municipal health officer of Tantangan, South Cotabato led a team of health workers in visiting Barangay New Iloilo after 36 persons simultaneously complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea Thursday morning. The villagers were rushed to various of hospitals in Koronadal City. Ureta said the patients have complained of stomach pain and diarrhea. Many have become weak the past 12 hours. We suspect it was a case of cholera, the symptoms shown by the patients were indicators of cholera disease but we are still investigating,” Ureta told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida said in Filipino. All the victims were neighbours coming from one district of Barangay Ilolilo who have one common source of drinking water. Ureta said health workers are also looking at food poisoning since all those rushed to the hospital attended a birthday party the other day.