DOH: 122 people got sick due to Oriental Mindoro oil spill

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) — The Department of Health (DOH) said at least 122 people had fallen ill following an oil spill from the MT Princess Empress which sank two weeks ago off the coast of Oriental Mindoro.

"Dati po nakapag-report tayo na ang initial natin is 79, ngayon po 122 na ang naitala o naireport na mga kaso which are from communities or individuals that have been affected either through skin transmission o yung pagpasok o inhalation o di kaya kanilang symptoms sa mga tiyan," DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

[Trending: We previously reported 79, now there are 122 reported cases which are from communities or individuals that have been affected either through skin transmission or inhalation, or had stomach symptoms.]

Last week, the DOH extended medical help to communities affected by the oil spill.

Aid in the form of medicines, face masks, nebulizers, oxygen concentrators and other health supplies were distributed. The agency had also readied its toxicology experts to support local primary care providers.

The DOH said cough, colds, and headaches were the chief complaints.

"Meron din pong nahihilo, 16. Meron pong mga sumakit ang tiyan, merong nahirapan huminga, 10. Merong nagkaroon ng skin rashes, around seven. At meron pong lima na na-aggravate — dahil nga nainhale nila — na-aggravate ang kanilang asthma," said Vergeire.

[Translation: There were 16 who experienced dizziness. There were some who had stomach aches, 10 had difficulty breathing. Others had skin rashes — around seven. And there were five whose asthma were aggravated because of inhalation.]

She added that nearly all have recovered and there was only one instance where they had to bring a patient to the hospital because of an asthma attack, but the person was released a day later.

The DOH said it is monitoring the situation and taking steps to further prevent symptoms.