Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has declared an acute gastroenteritis outbreak in the city after recording 1,602 cases, according to the Baguio City Public Information Office (PIO) on Wednesday, January 10.
The cases rose from the 350 acute gastroenteritis cases recorded by the Baguio City Health Services Office last December 21, 2023.
In a press release posted on its official Facebook page, Baguio City PIO said 1,602 cases were reported from 218 affected establishments and 80 affected households.
"Magalong this morning ordered intensified measures to address the health emergency which included the conduct of massive testing of water sources including water delivery companies and deepwells," it said, adding that law enforcement personnel were tapped to assist the investigation to determine "the root cause of the upsurge" of acute gastroenteritis cases.
According to the Baguio City PIO, food establishments and households had been advised to use purified water only instead of tap and filtered water.
On Tuesday, January 9, Baguio PIO reported that the Baguio City Health Services Office suspected that the cases were caused by contaminated water.
It assured that the Baguio City government is taking action on the matter.
The Baguio City Health Services Office is urging those who are experiencing gastroenteritis to report this immediately via bit.ly/foodwaterillness.
