A nurse checks a typhoid fever patient lying on a floor of an overcrowded Philippines hospital in March
© AFP/File Jay Directo

MANILA (AFP) - The outbreak in Real town is likely to have been caused by contaminated water, said Doctor Eric Tayag, head of National Epidemiology Center, citing water samples from the area.

"We found out they get water from the stream and no chlorination is being done," Tayag told reporters.

There have been no reports of deaths yet but a team of epidemiologists have been dispatched to Real.

While there had been cases of suspected typhoid as early as October 24, the heavy rains on November 1 may have worsened the situation.

Typhoid is a bacterial disease that is spread through the ingestion of food or drink contaminated by the faeces or urine of infected people.

©AFP