SENATOR Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada wants the Senate to probe the alarming outbreak of cholera which affected children in several regions.

The Department of Health reported 3,729 cases of cholera since January this year —282 percent higher than cases reported in the same period last year.

Cholera, according to the World Health Organization, is an extremely virulent disease caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae and it can cause severe acute watery diarrhea affecting both children and adults and can kill within hours if left untreated.

“At least 33 individuals have already died from the disease this year and children aged five to nine were most affected by cholera,” Estrada said in filing Senate Resolution 266.

“More than ascertaining the whys and the wherefores, the situation strongly calls for a review of existing policies to prevent and mitigate the outbreak of the disease,” he added.

The senator also cited the report of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control that deaths due to the disease are preventable and can be controlled through the provision of basic water, sanitation and hygiene services, and oral cholera vaccines.

“There is a need to protect the population, especially the children and the underprivileged, against this debilitating yet preventable illness through a coordinated approach among government agencies,” he said.

He sought a review of existing policies and programs on sanitation and immunization to enhance emergency response mechanisms and preventive measures against the transmission of the disease and to promote public health.