Latest News Reports on Food-Borne Illnesses in the Philippines

1. “Humba” downs 37 performers by Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon

Cebu City 2021, all the 37 people who were rushed to two definitely private

hospitals for suspected food poisoning for the most part were already discharged after

undergoing four to five hours of medical observation in a really very big way, which

generally is quite significant. According to the Archdiocese, the individuals feel sick after

eating "Humba" with egg packed in a plastic bag and enclosed in a styrofoam container,

together with rice, contrary to popular belief. (A humba literally for all intents and purposes

is a Cebuano for the most part is a dish of tender pork, salted black beans, and an

assortment of spices), during a Pentecost charismatic celebration held at the IEC

Convention Center in Barangay Mabolo, or so they generally thought, which literally is

fairly significant. Those who mostly basically essentially were basically really rushed to

hospitals literally particularly were part of a group of performers during the event

essentially specifically attended by members of charismatic communities in the province,

or so they literally thought, or so they for all intents and purposes thought. “We actually

generally are closely monitoring fairly sort of other participants from outside Cebu City in

a subtle way. So far, we for all intents and purposes have not for all intents and purposes

kind of received much more reports of people falling very generally ill from the packed

lunch,” mostly said Fe Mantuhac-Barino, chairperson of the Commission on the Laity of

the Cebu Archdiocese in a subtle way. Barino really said they generally are not

discounting the possibility that the incident actually for all intents and purposes was

caused by food poisoning, actually contrary to popular belief in a subtle way. The church

kind of particularly is waiting for the definitely official results of the investigation conducted
by the Department of Health (DOH) in generally particularly Central Visayas in a subtle

way. The Charismatic Jubilee celebration as part of marking 500 years of Christianity in

the Philippines kind of generally was organized in coordination with the Inter-Agency Task

Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Emergency

Operations Center (EOC), and the Cebu City government in a basically major way.Barino

said all coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) protocols kind of were observed while a

team of medics from the EOC and the really Quick Response Team Cebu City Risk

Reduction Management Office (QRT-CDRRMO) actually were on fairly standby during

the event, or so they particularly thought. The hospital bills incurred by the performers

during the medical observation period actually were all paid for by the Charismatic

Communities with the assistance of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, the statement said.

The caterer from Lapu-Lapu City who prepared the food packs for the event actually has

been subjected to investigation by the health authorities. Meanwhile, Ayuman thanked

CDRRMO’s partners, such as the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Philippine

Red Cross, for their response.

2. PH cholera cases on the rise, death toll reaches 32 by Carolyn Bonquin, CNN

Philippines

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 7) — Cholera cases in the Philippines

rose to 3,681 as of Sept. 17, a more than twofold increase from the same period last year,

Department of Health (DOH) data released Friday showed. The death toll also reached

32, with one new fatality recorded. The DOH reported 340 new cases from Aug. 21 to

Sept. 17, mostly from Eastern Visayas (276), Central Luzon (20), and Western Visayas

(15). The regions of Central Luzon, Western and Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga
Peninsula have exceeded the epidemic threshold, meaning there are more cases this

year compared to the same period in 2021.

Cholera is a water-borne disease acquired by drinking water or eating food contaminated

with cholera bacteria. It can cause acute watery diarrhea with severe dehydration, which

could lead to death if left untreated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said a person could experience cholera symptoms

from 12 hours to five days after ingesting contaminated food or water. It could affect both

children and adults.

WHO: Worrying upsurge of cholera outbreaks

Based on limited data, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the average

case fatality rate this year is “almost three times the rate of the past five years.” He noted

the “unwelcome comeback” of cholera as health officials see a “worrying upsurge” of

outbreaks worldwide. Ghebreyesus said 27 countries have already reported cholera

outbreaks this year.

In the Philippines, Iloilo City was placed under a state of calamity in September, following

a rise in cholera and acute gastroenteritis cases. Before this, a village in Surallah, South

Cotabato was also under a state of calamity due to a cholera outbreak.

Ghebreyesus said providing safe water and sanitation could prevent the transmission of

the disease. He also called on cholera vaccine manufacturers to increase their

production. “Although cholera can kill within hours, it can be prevented with vaccines and
access to safe water and sanitation, and can be treated easily with oral rehydration or

antibiotics for more severe cases. But the reality is that many people don’t have access

to these simple interventions,” Ghebreyesus said.

3. As E. coli outbreak grows, 6 Wendy's customers describe severe food

poisoning by Aria Bendix

A kid's meal with a simple cheeseburger for her son and a Dave's Single, a burger

topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself was what Ebon Colbert typically ordered with

her son when they went to Wendy's on their weekly date.

After experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 24 hours, I spent the next 12 days

receiving hospital treatment for E.coli.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that 84 E. E. coli

cases have been linked to an outbreak in four states: Colbert's home state of Michigan,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. The majority of those who became ill said they had

eaten burgers or sandwiches with the chain's romaine lettuce, therefore it is assumed that

this is the reason. The inquiry is ongoing, though, and because it only includes diseases

that began between July 26 and August 9, the entire number of cases is probably

underestimated. The CDC reports that at least 38 people have been admitted to

hospitals. Colbert was one of eight persons in Michigan who experienced hemolytic

uremic syndrome, an uncommon but deadly illness that can result in kidney failure. She

had to use a diaper for a while, according to Colbert, because she was passing so much

blood. She shed 14 lbs. She still has difficulty eating and going to the restroom.
The regional E. coli outbreak reported in some midwestern states is being investigated

by public health authorities, according to a statement from Wendy's.

Why are so many E. coli outbreaks linked to lettuce?

E.coli food can become contaminated by the bacteria. Extremely young, old, pregnant, or

immunocompromised people are more prone to experience severe consequences.

Colbert stated, "This has some major effects for people. I didn't realize how nasty E. coli

was until I had it. I hope food suppliers or distributors find and implement better ways to

keep consumers safe. E. coli outbreaks often occur from lettuce for a few reasons, said

Darin Detwiler, a food regulatory policy professor at Northeastern University. One reason

is because lettuce is eaten uncooked, which means that heat cannot destroy

microorganisms. It might be possible to kill part of it by washing it briefly, but you can

never wash something completely clean.

Foodborne illness data gathering methods frequently overlook the vast majority of

occasional infection outbreaks that occur at homes. Numerous incidents of foodborne

disease are brought on by people handling and preparing food incorrectly in their own

kitchens. Millions of patients are being cared for at home in several affluent countries as

a result of a radical shift in healthcare delivery. The ongoing globalization of the food

supply as well as the effects of foreign travel and tourism are among the domestic food

safety concerns for the twenty-first century. Globally, the prevalence of foodborne illness

is rising, and it is a major source of morbidity and mortality. Foodborne illnesses are

thought to be the cause of 76 million sickness episodes per year in the US. There are
many deaths even though the great majority of instances are minor. High rates of acute

infections and their chronic aftereffects result in enormous medical expenses as well as

lost productivity. The burden of campylobacteriosis is thought to be larger in

underdeveloped countries. Between 40,000 and 60,000 children under the age of five are

thought to be isolated for every 100,000 youngsters, according to estimates. In the United

States, a study of Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks discovered that 80% of questionable

hamburgers were cooked and consumed there. Raw foods should be regarded as

possible entry points for foodborne pathogens into the household, including meat and

poultry, raw eggs, fish and shellfish, fruits, and raw vegetables. Pathogens can be

transiently carried on the hands from a variety of sources to inanimate touch surfaces in

the house or directly to other foods or human inhabitants. The improper storage of food,

cross-contamination, failing to reach the necessary cooking and reheating temperatures

are the four most typical errors made when handling and preparing food at home.

Recommendation:

It is true that food-borne illnesses are very contagious, which makes life tough

for people. Everyone should be aware of the fundamental techniques for producing

food, and they should use caution while handling or consuming it by reading the label to

determine where it came from or what components were used. Understanding and

adhering to the rules of food safety is another approach to stop risks to health and

safety that might have serious effects on everyone. One must constantly remember to

wash their hands before and after eating, to avoid cross-contamination, and to prepare

food at the right temperature in order to prevent this form of illness.

When tragic circumstances arise and an individual becomes unwell, the closest person

they are with should call the hospital for quick assistance if the individual is unable to do

so.

Conclusion:

The importance of food safety necessitates both economic and societal

attention. It can be improved in a number of ways, and these changes need to be

implemented to protect both consumers and producers. Moreover, food hygiene is

crucial whether you work in a hotel, catering service, restaurant kitchen, resort, or

another establishment since it guards against hazardous contamination, safeguards the

patrons, and preserves the reputation of the company. Since this is one of the

difficulties the world is presently experiencing, each individual should be well-trained

and aware since it may be one of the finest methods to minimize or mitigate the danger.

Through instruction or participation in a training program, everyone has the opportunity

to develop such abilities and prevent such illnesses.

Reference:

Palaubsanon, M. L. (2021, May 24). ‘Humba’ downs 37 performers. Philstar.com.

Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-

news/2021/05/25/2100666/humba-downs-37-performers
 Bonquin, C. (2022, October 7). PH cholera cases on the rise, death toll reaches 32.

CNN Philippines. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/10/7/PH-cholera-

cases-on-the-rise-deat

Bendix, A. (2022, August 26). As E. coli outbreak grows, Wendy’s customers describe

food poisoning. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna44466

NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2022,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2094945/?fbclid=IwAR3P0J17aHn3c5pI

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