A Foreseeable Epidemic: Cholera Outbreak in Panay Island, Philippines at the Initial Years of the 20th Century

Epidemic of deadly diseases has been viewed as instrument of change. It can introduce modifications to affected population. The cholera outbreak in Panay at the advent of American rule was preceded by an epidemic of the same disease in Manila sometime in 1902. This serious public health crisis hastened the capitulation of the Panay population to foreign rule. The method adopted in this study is purely historical research. Archival materials, particularly primary sources, including basic concepts from the health sciences are vital materials for the formulation of this paper. This study took shape based on the assertion that the growth of public health in colonized countries served as a component of Imperialism. The outbreak began in Manila in March 1902, and rapidly spread to its neighbouring provinces until it reached Panay by August of the same year. Between 1902 and 1906, 33, 562 cases of cholera were recorded in Panay, and 23, 909 perished. This weakened the armed resistance to American aggression which hastened the capitulation of the provinces of Panay to another form of colonial rule. Alongside the establishment of American-sponsored provincial governments in the island, the Philippine Commission introduced a public health program designed to address the problems generated by the outbreak. This public health system served as reliable agent in the pacification campaign. The local residents expected the reappearance of the disease amidst its deadly presence in Manila. Viewed by experts as a sanitary problem, provincial governments and American health officials educated the public on the importance of sanitation and hygiene. Currently, experts confirm the belief that sanitation prevents an outbreak. This paper recommends further study on the contribution of outbreak of lethal diseases in shaping the 20th century Philippine public health system.