ILOILO – To avoid leptospirosis, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) urged the public to avoid wading in floodwaters or sewers.
From Jan. 1 to 28, the province logged 13 cases of the bacterial disease. These were in the towns of Cabatuan (three), Barotac Nuevo (three), Pototan (two), Santa Barbara (two), Dingle (one), Badiangan (one), and Dueñas (one).
This number of cases is 63 percent higher than the eight cases recorded in the same period in 2022.
“Ang leptospirosis [cases] sa aton nga probinsya naglab-ot na sa 13 halin lang sang Jan. 1 to 28. So, puede ini tungod nga sige naman ang inulan pareho man sang dengue nga naga-damo kay tungod sige-sige ang ulan,” said IPHO head, Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
One becomes infected with leptospirosis through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.
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 a rash.
How to avoid leptospirosis?
Do not wade in floodwaters because they could be contaminated, said Colmenares-Quiñon.
If wading in water cannot be avoided, she added, wear protective gear and thoroughly wash the exposed areas with clean soap and water.
Colmenares-Quiñon also encouraged those with open wounds exposed to floodwaters to immediately go to their respective rural health unit (RHU) for prophylaxis.
She also appealed to parents or guardians to keep an eye on their children.
The leptospira bacteria can enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes./PN
