ILOILO – Leptospirosis cases in this province increased by 228 percent this year compared to last year.
From Jan. 1 to Nov. 26, 2022, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) logged 128 cases – higher than the 39 cases recorded in the same period in 2021.
IPHO also recorded 10 deaths.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. One becomes infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. Bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.
Here is the breakdown of cases and deaths per town, including Passi City: Cabatuan (17 cases with one death); Oton (15); Maasin (10); Carles (seven cases with two deaths); Barotac Viejo (five cases with two deaths); Leon, Tigbauan, Zarraga, and Miag-ao (five each); Pototan and Alimodian (four each); Passi City, Santa Barbara, Guimbal, Anilao, and San Joaquin (three each); Banate and San Miguel (three cases with one death each); Badiangan, Tubungan, Igbaras and Mina (two each); Lambunao, Concepcion and Leganes (two cases with one death each); and New Lucena, Sara, Lemery, Balasan, Dumangas, Calinog, Barotac Nuevo, Janiuay, Dueñas, Dingle, and San Rafael (one case each).
Only seven towns in the province have no recorded leptospirosis cases this year.
These are San Enrique, Estancia, Pavia, Bingawan, San Dionisio, Ajuy, and Batad.
Last year, the 39 leptos cases were logged in Balasan (eight), Lambunao (four), San Enrique (three), Passi City and Carles (three cases each), Miag-ao and Tubungan (two cases each), and Pototan, Alimodian, Zarraga, San Miguel, Anilao, Igbaras, Concepcion, Mina, Calinog, Janiuay, and Estancia (one case each).
Because of the increase of leptospirosis in the province, IPHO head, Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, reminded Ilonggos, especially farmers, to avoid exposing open wounds to contaminated water such as floods.
If one cannot avoid wading in contaminated water, he must thoroughly wash himself with soap and clean water afterwards, she said.
Quiñon also encouraged those with open wounds exposed to flood water to immediately go to their respective rural health unit (RHU) for prophylaxis.
“Malikawan naton ang leptos kon indi kita mag-wade sa tubig-baha. And if maka-wade kita, magpanghugas gid gamit ang soap and water,” said the IPHO head.
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
