BACOLOD City – The number of suspected leptospirosis cases in this capital city increased 28.6 percent, according to the City Health Office (CHO).
CHO records showed that there were nine suspected cases of the disease in Bacolod from January to May 19 this year, higher compared to seven cases in the same period last year.
Medical Officer IV Grace Tan, head of CHO’s Environmental Sanitation Division, said they considered the cases “suspected” pending confirmation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Out of the seven cases from January to May 19 last year, three resulted to death, the CHO added.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals.
Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.
Person-to-person transmission is rare, WHO added.
In the early stages of the disease, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
According to Tan, the public must make sure that their surroundings are clean to prevent leptospirosis infection.
Bacolodnons must also avoid throwing garbage in areas where water flows, which can also lead to other diseases like typhoid and diarrhea, among others./PN
