BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Health officials are working double time as an outbreak of respiratory illnesses threaten evacuees in at least 34 evacuation centers on Negros Island where over 14,000 of Negrenses were forced to spend the holidays following the eruption of Mount Kanlaon last December 9.

According to Department of Health-Negros Island Region (DoH-NIR) regional director Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, they have already received many health complaints of fever, cough and colds at the evacuation centers in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

“Those treated for these ailments comprise four percent of the evacuees. As of December 29, there were 24 cases of fever and 53 for acute respiratory infection,” Hao cited.

The health official noted, meantime, that only seven persons have been referred to hospitals, two of whom were admitted—one for exacerbated hypertension, which has been stabilized, and the other for rehydration due to diarrhea.

In response to the health threat, the DoH-NIR had immeduately sent meducal teams to conduct consultations and treatment at the different evacuation centers.

The health department has fielded 28 teams with doctors that make the rounds at the evacuation centers located in the town of La Castellana and the cities of La Carlota, Bago and San Carlos in Negros Occidental, as well as in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.

The health teams is comprised of 140 medical personnel assisted by six doctors, 34 nurses, 77 other clinical staff and 14 technical staff.

Authorities have not yet issued any notice that evacuated residents can return to their homes since they still have to be kept away from the danger zones with Mount Kanlaon continuing to display intensified magmatic activities in the past two days.

In an advisory, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced that amidst the ongoing volcanic activity, community preparedness and vigilance is of the utmost importance. It added that local authorities and emergency services should remain “on high alert, ensuring resources are available to support the affected residents.”