ILOILO City – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported 85 cases with two deaths due to leptospirosis from Jan. 1 to March 18 this year.
The deaths were from the municipalities of Badiangan and Carles, said IPHO head, Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, yesterday.
The number of cases recorded was 750 percent higher than the 10 cases in the same period last year.
“The cases upon investigation are mostly farmers. We have already coordinated with the agriculture (office) to improve awareness on this because probably they are not aware of the availability of prophylaxis,” in rural health units to prevent the disease, said Colmenares-Quiñon.
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 the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.
Among the clinical manifestations are mild, influenza-like illness; Weil’s syndrome or severe infection characterized by jaundice, renal failure, hemorrhage; meningitis/meningoencephalitis; and pulmonary hemorrhage with respiratory failure.
Colmenares-Quiñon reminds everyone, especially farmers, that if they wade in fields or flood waters, go to the nearest Rural Health Unit to be given prophylaxis.
Use boots and wash your whole body after swimming in water to avoid being infected with leptospirosis, the IPHO head added. (With reports from Philippine News Agency)/PN
