COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A diarrhea outbreak in three barangays in Pata town in Sulu has left eight villagers dead and 200 sick. "Villagers do their washing and urination within the immediate peripheries of the wells," Sinolinding told The STAR via mobile phone on Monday morning. Sinolinding, who supervised treatment of the diarrhea patients, said eight Pata residents perished due to severe dehydration while 56 others were confined in hospitals, now recuperating. Hataman said Monday that Engineer Don Loong, ARMM Public Works secretary, will construct water supply facilities in Pata to prevent a repeat of the diarrhea outbreak. Pata is a poor town in the underdeveloped and troubled Sulu province, where absenteeism among elected local officials is blamed for much of the area's socio-economic and security problems.

Source: Philippine Star April 09, 2018 04:11 UTC