BACOLOD City – This city reported a spike in leptospirosis cases in the first nine months of this year.
From Jan. 1 to Sept. 23, the City Health Office (CHO) recorded 75 cases – 200 percent higher than the 25 cases in the same period last year.
The CHO also logged 14 leptospirosis deaths this year compared to last year’s five.
Barangays Estefania and Mansilingan logged the highest number of cases with six each. They were followed by:
* Bata, Banago, Vista Alegre, and Felisa with five each
* 35, Taculing, and Singcang with four each
* Pahanocoy with three
Grace Tan, chief of the CHO’s Environment Sanitation Division, said 70 percent of patients declared they had exposure or contact with contaminated water or ground.
The most common reasons for complications and death were delayed health-seeking behavior and denial of infection, she said.
The CHO has once again reminded residents to take leptospirosis prophylaxis as soon as possible following exposure to possibly contaminated water or ground. It added that the environment should be kept clean at all times; uncovered and unstored food and garbage are the best breeding grounds for rats.
“Report to your barangay any uncovered manhole, ditches, and open canals or septic vaults which could be breeding places or rat shelters for appropriate management,” Tan added.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira spirochetes bacteria contracted through the urine of infected animals, especially rats.
The Leptospira bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin or the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes.
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 rashes./PN
