Press Release
March 4, 2008

Gordon mobilizes Red Cross against Calamba typhoid outbreak

Senator and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman Richard Gordon has mobilized the PNRC to provide aid for residents in Calamba, Laguna who have been stricken by typhoid fever.

"The Philippine National Red Cross will work together with the Department of Health (DOH) and local officials to provide immediate aid for the typhoid fever victims. We have also already deployed our people to undertake an information campaign to teach people how to keep the typhoid virus from spreading," said Gordon.

The PNRC Calamba chapter reported the increasing number of typhoid fever patients in their area. The number of those affected is expected to reach over 3,000. A total of 504 typhoid patients were confined at nine (9) hospitals. Also reported were 2,000 people affected by typhoid in Barangay Bucal and 700 in Barangay Pansol. Victims were complaining of severe headache, high fever, body malaise and diarrhea.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque has declared the typhoid fever cases in Calamba as an "outbreak". The report stated that hospitals have been admitting patients since February 16, 2008 but the bulk of admission came on February 29, 2008 up to March 1, 2008.

The PNRC Laguna Chapter has deployed nineteen (19) volunteers and staff to assess the situation and provide massive information dissemination to some 18 barangays that were affected.

Local authorities and health workers have pointed to the possibility of water source contamination as the cause of the typhoid outbreak.

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