Tacloban City Health Office has announced that 16 barangays in the city have shown the presence of the schistosomiasis virus through a Facebook post from the Tacloban City Information Office Facebook page, Saturday, February 24.
Six northern barangays were listed with the presence of the said virus namely: Brgy 3 and Brgy 3-A in Nulatula; Brgy 100 San Roque; Brgy 103-A Paglaum; Brgy 107 Sta Elena and Brgy 108 Tagpuro.
Additionally, the remaining ten southern and coastal barangays include: Brgy 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, and 82 in Marasbaras; Brgy 84, Manlurip, San Jose; Brgy 95 and 95-A in Caibaan; and Brgy 96 Calanipawan.
CHO warns that a person with open wounds must be vigilant, especially in walking through flooded areas, creeks, or canals in the vicinity of the aforementioned areas as contaminated waters with the presence of schistosoma-carrier blood-flukes have been confirmed.
Additionally, the City Health Office through Mel Maravilles, nurse coordinator for communicable diseases, urged the public to immediately visit the nearest health centers or the City Health Office and have their blood examined especially if they feel the primary symptoms of the disease.
Headaches, stomach aches, and vomiting ranging from mild to worse are among the early symptoms of this communicable disease.
Further, Maravilles added that an infected person must not worry about the expenses and wait until the virus spreads throughout the body and reaches the severe stage as consultation and medicine for this disease are free of charge.
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