Contaminated water brings on typhoid attack in Philippines

Over one hundred people have been taken ill with Typhoid fever after consuming contaminated water in the area of Quezon, an official statement has revealed.

The Department of Health made the announcement yesterday, reported gmanews.tv.

Head of the Department's National Epidemology Centre Doctor Eric Tavaq told the publication that tests are currently being carried out on the victims' water supplies to determine what types of toxins are present in it.

"We found out that they get water from a stream upon which no chlorination is being done," he said.

He added that typhoid has been present in the area as early as last month, but recent heavy rains may have caused it to flare up.

Francisco Duque, the country's health secretary, said that the number of people taken ill "seems that it's going down".

In India earlier this month, 176 residents of the Mohali region became sick after their water supply was found to be contaminated.