Baguio city: The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) has issued a warning concerning the potential spread of waterborne diseases as the wet season begins.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH has identified several water and food-borne diseases of concern, including cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, rotavirus, paralytic shellfish poisoning, and dysentery. These illnesses are attributed to infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites, which are often transmitted through contaminated food and water.

The department has highlighted common symptoms associated with these diseases, which include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, and stomach pain. In a recent advisory, the DOH emphasized the importance of not becoming complacent, even though these illnesses are typically treatable.

The advisory recommends that individuals use oral rehydration solutions as a first aid measure. These solutions can be purchased at pharmacies or prepared at home using a mixture of one liter of clean drinking water, eight tablespoons of sugar, and one tablespoon of salt.

Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, head of the Baguio City Health Services Office, has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring the cleanliness and proper preparation of food and water. In an earlier interview, she noted that while these diseases are preventable and manageable at home, ensuring the cleanliness of consumables is critical to avoiding severe illness and potential hospitalization due to dehydration.