Via PhilStar.com: Catanduanes under state of calamity; cholera outbreak declared. Excerpt:
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday declared a cholera outbreak in Catanduanes due to the alarming rise of cases of the disease in the province from January 1 to June 13.
DOH Undersecretary Ted Herbosa said that at least eight people out of the 1,370 total cases have reportedly died in the province. He said that a total of 748 with six deaths have been recorded in Virac town.
DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said a team from the department's central office in Manila has been dispatched to Catanduanes to assist the local health personnel.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona, meanwhile, said one cause of cholera outbreak in the area is drinking of water from the rivers contaminated with cholera bacteria.
"They drink water from the river and that's dangerous," Ona said.
The DOH said that local government units in the province have committed to step up information and education campaign against the use of water from the river. The local governments have also started the distribution of potable water to the residents.
Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua has declared a state of calamity in the province to allow local government units to use P1.6-million calamity fund from their 2011 savings.
The funds will be utilized for the implementation of measures to prevent and stop the spread of the disease.
