ANTIQUE – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here recorded 10 leptospirosis cases, with one death, from January to October of this year.
Nurse Jerald Ray Tung, PHO Infectious Disease Cluster Program manager, said the fatality was from Bugasong town.
Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira bacteria that enter the body through wounds which come in contact with floodwater, vegetation and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.
That is why this rainy season, PHO is again warning the public, especially the farmers, of the risk of acquiring the bacterial infection.
“Ang leptospirosis isa ka bacterial infection sa tawo halin sa sapat. Amo na ang leptospira nga nagatawas sa ihi pareho sang karbaw, baka, ayam pero usually sa ihi sang balabaw,” Tung said.
He said that in early stages of leptospirosis, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, and abdominal pain.
Other symptoms include jaundice, hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
When these symptoms are seen after being exposed to floodwater, one must immediately seek medical attention or go to the nearest rural health centers, Tung said.
Rural health centers provide free chemoprophylaxis, a preventive measure against leptospirosis.
“Ang mas epektibo nga pamaagi para malikawan ang dya nga masakit amo ang paglikaw sa pagsarom sa tubig ilabi na gid kon ikaw may pilas. Kon indi malikawan nga magsarom, so pakig-angut sa pinakarapit nga MHO (municipal health office) para mahatagan sang prophylaxis treatment,” Tung added./PN
