By: April Therese Tan
The Department of Health-7 has warned the public of water borne diseases as it is one of the many diseases to watch out for each time there is a typhoon.
DOH-7 chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said that this is primarily because of the absence of potable water.
“At times even these potable water may need treatment prior to use for drinking, like adding chlorine or aqua tablets to ensure that the water content for bacteria is minimized to eliminated,” Loreche said.
The chief pathologist in Region-7 added that without these, then boiling water and letting it simmer for a few more minutes can make this safe for drinking
“Of course, we need also to understand sanitation practices as this will have a huge impact in the overall safety of the water,” Loreche further said.
Water borne diseases includes typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A.
DOH had earlier said that “typhoons and heavy rains may cause flooding which, in turn, can potentially increase the transmission of water-borne diseases, or diseases transmitted through water contaminated with human or animal waste.”