Some 100 athletes, coaches and officials of the Naga City delegation were stricken by diarrhea last week, just days before the start of the Palarong Bicol at the Catanduanes Athletic Complex this afternoon.

The Catanduanes Tribune reports that as of Feb. 22, the Department of Health Center for Health Development Bicol (DOH CHD Bicol) has yet to determine with certainty what caused the ailment pending the results of the epidemiological investigation jointly done by the team of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of the province, the DOH-CHD Bicol and its Provincial Health Team (PHT) stationed in Catanduanes.

The team has already sent for laboratory tests rectal swabs taken from 20 of those athletes as well as two water samples taken from filtered water supplied by a water refilling station in Virac.

The 500-person delegation arrived at its billeting school – Virac Center Elementary School – beginning Feb. 18. The following day, two delegates began manifesting watery stools three times or more in 24 hours, with the number of cases reaching a hundred the next day. Sixty-seven of those were athletes from the elementary and secondary level while 33 were adults.

An initial report submitted by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Lubelia Sanchez to Governor Joseph Cua identified two probable causes of the diarrhea. The report said that athletes may have drank contamined water from the ice mixed in the filtered water, improperly handled water or poorly boiled water from the dispenser. On the other hand, it said, food eaten by the delegation may have been contaminated due to improper food handling and preparation.

A survey of the delegation caterer’s area revealed the absence of drainage, unprotected food, utensils placed in an uncovered basin on the floor, and food servers not wearing head net, apron and were without health certificates. Ice bought from a nearby ice plant was mixed with the filtered water.