In the beginning of this year, one of the dreaded virus spread not only in China, but also in neighboring countries including the Philippines. Coronavirus or so called COVID-19, claimed hundreds of lives around the globe. As of today, there are 187 cases are recorded in the Philippines, 14 of them died. Precautionary measures by different countries were implemented to eradicate this dreaded virus. The Philippines was placed under State of Public Health Emergency; OFWs and travelers who traveled from Coronavirus stricken countries are required to undergo quarantine. Workers, employees and even students are advised to stay at homes to prevent further contacts with persons carrying this virus. Schools from all levels are suspended indefinitely, government offices and some of the businesses were indefinitely closed. Transportation by air and land was partially crippled due to lack of passengers because of scare.
Way back 1902, there is an epidemic occurred in the Philippines. This so called Asiatic Cholera outbreak is one of the epidemics that claimed many lives. How this Asiatic Cholera outbreak occurred in our country? In those times, the Philippines was heavily dependent on the importation of fresh vegetables from Canton, China. A strain of Asiatic Cholera spread throughout Canton and five days later, it reached Hong Kong. The Chief Quarantine Officer of then Philippine Islands ordered the total ban on importation of vegetables from Canton. However, the disease managed to slip into the islands. On March 20, 1902, a report was received by the secretary of Board of Health (precursor of Department of Health) from San Juan de Dios Hospital in Manila. And it was stated, that there are two patients are showing symptoms of Asiatic Cholera. The series of tests done by the Government Laboratories confirmed that the two patients are suffering Asiatic Cholera. On the following days many cases were reported; thus the outbreak started.
Health officials deployed quarantine guards around the entrance and exit points of Manila to prevent the persons contacted with disease to leave Manila. Water patrols are activated and all vessels leaving Manila required to undergo quarantine for five days in Mariveles, Bataan. If the disease was detected on the board, a longer quarantine period was imposed. Sanitary cordons were established in the limits of the Manila and other towns, and no one can leave Manila without a pass except for the health officers. Thorough cleaning of houses and streets was ordered, the use of raw fruits and vegetables are banned, and a corps of sanitary inspectors was organized to see that these orders were complied properly. Major General Adna R. Chaffee, Military Governor of the Philippine Islands issued General Order No. 66 in regards to the precautionary measures to contain the spread the disease in the provinces. The order stated that the medical officers assigned on their respective stations are hereby members of the board of health. The board of health were charged to ensure the sanitation of every municipalities by monitoring the water supply, non contamination of food, removal of fecal matter and garbage with burial at a distance from the towns. Isolation camps shall be established in every towns where the victims were isolated until they will recover or die. If the victim died, his body will be burned or buried in the quicklime. If the victim’s house was made up of nipa, it will be burned and if it was made up of wood, it will carefully disinfect. In the towns with number of cholera cases, their drinking water must be boiled and the selling of raw vegetables will be prohibited.
Quarantine of the victims is the most effective way to stamp out the disease. However, many persons for one reason or another, denied that the disease was cholera. And even absurd stories were circulated and gained credence among the lower class, thus making the task of the health authorities more difficult. The spread of this disease in the provinces was caused by disobedience and lack of discipline, especially from the boatmen escaping from the strict guard of the quarantine guards during evening; and others who slipped away from the quarantine guards by way of escaping through the rice paddies. In addition, many persons are ought to have known better were reluctant to admit its true nature, and probably the deaths of thousands of its victims have been ascribed to other causes. Many municipalities have no sanitary organization in those times; and even no sanitary records were kept. In many instances, cases were hidden and burial permits for the dead obtained upon false returns with reference of cause of their death, so that their families and friends might evade the annoyance and inconvenience of quarantining and disinfection.
In Pampanga, the disease was initially reached the town of San Simon in April 6, 1902. It was spread to the towns of San Miguel (now Masantol) on April 10, Macabebe on April 12, Sexmoan on April 15 and later, it spread throughout the province. On the middle of July, the spread of the disease started to subside. Only in the towns of Bacolor, Betis, San Fernando and Arayat where the disease is still existed. In the town of Candaba, it registered with 403 cases, 186 of them died. The town of San Miguel has the highest cases and deaths ever recorded, it reached to 349 casulaties. To further eradicate the disease, some of the Augustinian friars formerly stationed in former parishes volunteered to return. Fr. Galo Ma. de la Calle, OSA returned in Lubao to assist and nurse the victims of the disease. However, the beloved friar itself contacted the disease and died in the same year. Fr. Fernando Garcia, OSA returned to his former parish in Macabebe to show once more in such a sorrowful occasion his charity and zeal for the salvation of the souls of those who were his beloved subjects. The disease was totally disappeared in the province in September, 1902.
Throughout the outbreak years, the Philippines recorded 166,252 cases and 109,461 of them died. On April 27, 1904, the Board of Health officially declared the Philippines free from Asiatic Cholera. While its disastrous effects will be felt for many years to come, it is not without its valuable lessons, from which it is hoped that much has been learned.
Photo Credits:
gutenberg.org
Sources:
Annual Report of the Commissioner of Public Health, Covering the Period from September 1, 1903 to August 31, 1904; (1905) Bureau of Public Printing, Manila, P.I.
Flores Para Los Frailes: The Augustinians in the Philippines; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga.
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