ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 232 cases of leptospirosis – with 27 deaths – in Western Visayas from Jan. 1 to June 16. These were the most in the country so far this year, said Dr. Ma. Sofia Pulmones, chief of DOH Region 6’s local health support division.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. One becomes infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.
At 83, Negros Occidental had the most number of cases in the region. Iloilo had 58; Capiz, 33; Guimaras, 27; Aklan, 3; Antique, 1; Bacolod City, 13, and Iloilo City, 13.
According to Pulmones, one case in Negros Oriental was admitted in a hospital in Negros Occidental.
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.
Of the 27 deaths, Capiz had the most at eight. Negros Occidental had seven; Iloilo, six; Guimaras, three; and one each in Aklan, Iloilo City and Bacolod City.
“Most of those who died were farmers or those who waded in contaminated floodwaters,” said Pulmones.
DOH listed the following leptospirosis prevention and control measures:
* Avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water or floodwater.
* Use of proper protection like boots and gloves when work requires exposure to contaminated water.
* Drain potentially contaminated water when possible.
* Control rats in the household by using rat traps or rat poison, maintaining cleanliness in the house.
While the leptospirosis figures so far covered only half of the year, Pulmones said these were already 100 percent higher than last year’s 87 cases with nine deaths.
DOH has Doxycycline antibiotics for distribution to areas with high leptospirosis cases, said Pulmones.
DOH stressed the importance of early recognition and treatment within two days of the illness to prevent complications.
Data from DOH’s central office showed 1,030 leptospirosis cases in the country from Jan. 1 to June 9. Most of the patients were males between one year old to 88 years old.
Next to Western Visayas having the most cases were the Caraga Region or northeast Mindanao (162) and Region XI or southern Mindanao (86)./PN
