Number of people sick due to Mindoro oil spill rises to 191 —DOH

The number of people who have become sick due to the effects of the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro has increased to 191, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

At a media forum, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the total increased by 14 more individuals, based on the collection data from March 2 to 20.

“Unang-una sa listahan natin 'yung mga nakakaranas ng respiratory symptoms. 'Yung iba nakaranas ng pagkahilo,' yung iba nagkaroon ng masakit ang tiyan, at 'yung iba nangangati ang kanilang balat o meron silang mga dermatological signs and symptoms,” Vergeire said.

(First on our list are those who experience respiratory symptoms. Others experience dizziness, stomach aches, and others have itchy skin or dermatological signs and symptoms.)

Of the 191 reported cases, at least 101 patients have recovered, Vergeire added.

The DOH official said only one patient was reportedly hospitalized due to an aggravated asthma attack during the first week of the oil spill in the province.

“Sa ngayon po patuloy po ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa local government at iba’t ibang ahensya. We were already conducting air quality monitoring, nagkaroon na rin po ng water sampling, nagkaroon na rin po ng mga analysis na nakukuha natin from the disposal or collection of this oil from the shoreline,” Vergeire said.

(Currently, we are continuing to communicate with the local government and various agencies. We were already conducting air quality monitoring, water sampling, and analysis from the disposal or collection of this oil from the shoreline.)

“So ito po lahat ginagamit natin ang mga resulta na ito kapag lumabas na para mas mapaigting ang response at pagprotekta sa ating komunidad laban sa mga health effects nitong oil spill na ito,” she added.

(So we use these results when they come out to intensify the response and protect our community against the health effects of this oil spill.)

Motor tanker Princess Empress was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28. All 20 people on board were rescued.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has collected 6,803 liters of oily water mixture and 65 sacks of oil-contaminated materials during its offshore response operations for the oil spill. — BM, GMA Integrated News