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An irrigation waterway is useless in providing water fot nearby farms of unharvestable rice fields in San Miguel Bulacan on February 26, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Arra Perez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240226-el-nino-san-miguel-bulacan-JC-5968.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="An irrigation waterway is useless in providing water fot nearby farms of unharvestable rice fields in San Miguel Bulacan on February 26, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An irrigation waterway is useless in providing water for nearby farms of unharvestable rice fields in San Miguel Bulacan on February 26, 2024. <em><strong></strong>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News<strong></strong></em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Amid the prevailing El Niño, the Department of Health (DOH) has recorded cases of water contamination, food-borne and vector-borne illnesses in different regions in the country.</p><p>As of January 2024, DOH&#x27;s El Niño-related health events listed 469 cases of contaminated water sources in CAR, Regions 11 and 4A; 59 cases of food-borne illnesses in NCR, Region 10, and BARMM; and 137 cases of vector-borne diseases (dengue and chikungunya) in Regions 10 and 4B.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/2/kailangan-na-ba-ng-state-of-calamity-dahil-sa-el-nino-2111" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BASAHIN: Kailangan na ba ng state of calamity dahil sa El Niño?</a></div><p>DOH assistant secretary Albert Domingo said these numbers are not yet alarming on a national scale, but added that cases are being monitored and are either being resolved or have already been resolved.</p><p>&quot;Hindi pa naman siya enough para mag-cause ng alarm in terms of numbers, pero they&#x27;re still there at kailangan nating bantayan. Kasi kami ayaw naman naming mag-antay ng alarma na saka lang kikilos,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>(It&#x27;s not enough to cause alarm in terms of numbers but they&#x27;re still there and we need to watch over it because we don&#x27;t want to wait for an alarm before we could act.) </p><p>&quot;Magandang balita is, so far, wala pa tayong nare-report na mga heat stroke cases sa ating bansa. So huwag po tayong magbilad sa araw, tayo po ay nasa lilim lagi. Magsuot tayo ng light-colored clothes, huwag tayo iyong masyadong mga, kumbaga, dark, iyong mga masisikip. As much as possible, drink a lot of water, mag-hydrate tayo. Kung tayo po ay kailangan lumabas, iwasan natin lumabas sa oras na 10 am hanggang 2 pm kasi iyon ang pinaka-peak na mataas iyong araw. Iyon ang tanghaling tapat na sinasabi nila,&quot; he added.</p><p>(The good news is so far we have not reported any heat stroke cases in the country, so let&#x27;s not spend too much time on the sun and stay in shaded areas. Wear light-colored clothes and avoid tight-fitting ones. As much as possible, drink a lot of water. Hydrate. If we need to go out, let&#x27;s avoid going out from 10 am to 2 pm because it&#x27;s when the sun is at its peak.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/28/51-out-of-82-provinces-are-el-ni-o-hit-official-1543">READ: 51 out of 82 provinces are El Niño-hit: official</a></div><p>Domingo, who is also a doctor, shared the risk for heart attack also increases because of the hot weather which may cause stress, but other factors must be considered, like diet and lack of physical activity.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/5/myocardial-infarction-in-women-what-are-the-risks-912">Myocardial infarction in women: what are the risks</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/29/effects-of-el-ni-o-could-linger-until-june-official-935">READ: Effects of El Niño could linger until June: official </a></div><div><strong>ILLNESSES IN WATER AND FOOD</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20240111-water-collection-manila-MD3710.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Residents queue for water at Barangay 101 in Manila on January 11, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents queue for water at Barangay 101 in Manila on January 11, 2024. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong>As seen in the data, illnesses during the El Niño are not only due to the heat, but are also related to proper water handling and storage.</div><p>Domingo said the DOH has already met with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to ensure that concessionaires properly install water pipes, as weak water pressure may cause health issues.</p><p>&quot;Kapag kaunti ang water pressure, pwedeng pumasok ang tubig na nakapaligid sa labas ng tubo na... Dapat pag nagkabit mula sa planta papunta sa bahay, siguradong hindi tayo nagkakaroon ng puwang,&quot; he explained.</p><p>(If there is lower water pressure, water can protrude outside the pipes. If you&#x27;re installing pipes, let&#x27;s make sure there are no gaps.) </p><p>&quot;Pag bumaba iyong pressure tapos nagkataon na meron kang joints ng tubo na maluluwag, pagpapasok doon iyong maduming tubig... Siguraduhin natin laging malinis ang ating tubig. Kung may duda, pakuluan ng 2 minuto ang tubig, at least,&quot; he added. </p><p>(When the water pressure is low and there are loose joints, contaminated water may come in. Let&#x27;s make sure our water is always clean. When in doubt, boil the water for at least 2 minutes.) </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/01/25/24/how-metro-manila-is-bracing-for-el-nio">READ: How Metro Manila gov’ts are taking proactive measures vs El Niño</a></div><p>Engr. Patrick Dizon, department manager and spokesperson of MWSS, assured that its concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad are following the standards on water supply distribution pipelaying.</p><p>&quot;Both of our concessionaires are adhering to the MWSS technical specifications and standards for water supply distribution pipelaying. Furthermore, all contractors involved have undergone prequalification processes to ensure that work is executed with high quality standards. Additionally, our project engineers are actively overseeing the execution of the projects,&quot; he said in a message to ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Storing water is acceptable but Domingo explained that this must be done efficiently to avoid dengue. </p><p>&quot;Siguraduhin na pag nag-imbak tayo ng tubig, may takip... Kung kayang selyado para hindi makapasok ang lamok. Kasi doon siya papasok tapos mangigitlog siya, magkakaroon tayo ng dengue: kiti kiti, na magiging lamok later on, dengue ang kalalabasan,&quot; Domingo said.</p><p>(Let&#x27;s make sure to seal water when stored. If you can, so mosquitoes won&#x27;t come in because that&#x27;s where it comes in and lays eggs. That&#x27;s where the cause of dengue lies: mosquito larvae.) </p><p>&quot;Tandaan natin kung sino iyong una nating pinaglagyan, iyon ang una nating gagamitin,&quot; he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/27/despite-sufficient-resources-lgus-urged-to-expect-dire-el-ni-o-effects-1909">READ: Despite sufficient resources, LGUs urged to expect &#x27;dire&#x27; El Niño effects</a></div><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/24/tips-para-mapaghandaan-ang-epekto-ng-el-ni-o-106">Tips para mapaghandaan ang epekto ng El Niño</a></div><p>Resident Annalyn Galagaran from Block 35, Brgy. Addition Hills in Mandaluyong makes sure to adhere to these tips, as water pressure in their area tends to be weak.</p><p>&quot;Sa Phase 1, malakas minsan. Depende lang sa taas talaga ng linya kasi iyong tubo nila minsan maliit lang,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Mineral [water] lang naman talaga kami kasi parang nasanay na iyong tiyan namin... Sa amin isang [drum] lang para papalitan din iyan kinabukasan,&quot; she added.</p><p>Domingo shared avoiding food-borne illnesses also lies in proper food storage and preparation.</p><p>&quot;Parang noong Pasko iyong reminder natin. Kung tayo ay &#x27;mag-Sha-Sharon&#x27; at magbabalot, piliin natin iyong hindi masasarsa... Mas maganda iyong pagkain na tuyo, inihaw... Ano iyong mga napapanis? Iyong may gatas, may tomato sauce. So iwas tayo. Mas gusto natin iyong adobo kasi may suka siya, medyo hindi siya nagmimikrobyo,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Like our reminders during Christmas, when we store food, let&#x27;s store those that don&#x27;t have much sauce. It&#x27;s better to store dry food.-- grilled. What kind of food spoils easily? Those with milk, tomato sauce. Let&#x27;s avoid that. We prefer dishes like adobo because it has vinegar.)</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2960877"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Amid the prevailing El Niño, the Department of Health has recorded cases of water contamination, food-borne and vector-borne illnesses in different regions in the country.</p>

Amid the prevailing El Niño, the Department of Health has recorded cases of water contamination, food-borne and vector-borne illnesses in different regions in the country.

DOH monitoring El Niño-related contaminated water, food-borne illness cases

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DOH monitoring El Niño-related contaminated water, food-borne illness cases

Arra Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 05, 2024 01:01 PM PHT

Read More:

El Niño

DOH

Diseases

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Department of Health

water contamination

food-borne illnesses

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