More samples from various water sources found contaminated — Baguio LGU

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) — Samples from 18 water sources, which include water delivery businesses and food establishments, have tested positive for contamination amid the gastroenteritis outbreak in Baguio City, the public information office reported Friday.

City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes said that as of Jan. 12, samples from 62 establishments, households and institutions had been tested at the public health laboratory.

“Results showed that 18 tested positive for total coliform and eight for e coli,” she said in a statement.

Of the 18 samples that tested positive for coliform, 12 were from water delivery firms, four from food establishments, one from a residential place, and one from a school.

Brillantes said the findings affirmed that the affliction was indeed caused by contaminated water.

Cause, source still unknown

While results showed contamination, the city said it is still “inconclusive” as to where the source of contamination came from.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong in the same statement said Baguio is fast-tracking the investigation, tapping the Epidemiology Bureau to speed up data collection and testing of water samples.

The Baguio Water District said it has tested its deepwells and its rainwater harvesting facilities. All have yielded negative for coliform results in rapid tests as of Jan. 10.

As of 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 12, a total of 2,915 self-report cases have been recorded in the city with 652 patients consulting in health facilities, 65% of which are still symptomatic.

EXPLAINER: What is gastroenteritis and how to treat it? 

“Majority or 62.1% of the patients dined in a food establishment, 13.2 percent ordered take-out food, 12.9% ate home-cooked meals and 11.9% had other circumstances,” the local government unit said.

Baguio City has also implemented safeguards to adapt to possible shortage in medicine and bottled water in face of the increased demand.

Price and supply monitoring of bottled water was also intensified and medicine supply was also augmented with some donations from private companies in the region.

Magalong earlier declared an outbreak of gastroenteritis in Baguio City.

The US National Center for Biotechnology Information defines gastroenteritis as an infection or inflammation affecting the stomach and intestines when contaminated food and water are ingested.