Butuanon River is now declared off limits to the public after water samples from the waterway tested positive for the poliovirus.
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 has already been conducting case findings to examine the suspected cases of Polio in the region, such as where the Butuan River runs through in places like Cebu City, Mandaue, Consolacion and Lapu-Lapu City.
DOH7 Director Jaime Bernadas said the samples taken from the river by the Research Institute for tropical Medicine (RITM) were found to be contaminated with the poliovirus.
“Mayroon tayong nakita sa Butuanon River na isang sample na nakita sa ating RITM na nagpositive sa polio na virus,” Bernadas said.
Despite the findings, the DOH said the region is still polio-free.
”Wala pa tayong confirmed na kaso ng polio sa Region 7, ngunit dahil diyan, mayroong magsasagawa tayo ng active case finding,” Bernadas said.
Meanwhile, residents near the river have expressed worries especially for the safety of their children, but the LGUs assure they will strictly implement their campaign and monitoring against polio.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said Butuanon river and its tributaries, including Mahiga and Tipolo Creek, are currently off-limits.
Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella added their health officer already created a profile within the five-kilometer radius, and that the city is in the process of “clearing danger zones, rivers, creeks.”
