Mar 5, 2008, 8:44 GMT
Manila - A typhoid outbreak has struck a Philippine city south of the capital, afflicting more than 1,000 people, the country's health chief said Wednesday.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said more than 1,200 residents with typhoid-like symptoms have been rushed to hospitals in Calamba City, 60 kilometres south of Manila, and nearby health centres.
Duque said 27 cases have been confirmed to be typhoid, while blood culture tests were still being conducted on other victims.
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection characterized by diarrhoea, systemic disease and a rash.
Health authorities were confirming a report that one typhoid victim has died since the outbreak was first noticed earlier in the month.
Most residents suspect that contaminated drinking water was the source of the outbreak, but tests on the local water source was negative for typhoid-causing bacteria.
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