ILOILO City – Last year, Western Visayas recorded 210 cases of leptospirosis, with 22 deaths, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The figures were 34 percent lower than 2019’s 317 cases (with 35 deaths).
Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira bacteria that enter the body through wounds which come in contact with floodwater, vegetation and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.
Here’s the breakdown of cases by provinces and major cities:
* Negros Occidental – 59 cases with eight deaths
* Iloilo – 50 cases with three deaths
* Antique – 30 cases with one death
* Guimaras – 20 cases with four deaths
* Capiz – 17 cases with three deaths
* Bacolod City – 15 cases with two deaths
* Iloilo City – 12 cases
* Aklan – seven cases with one death
The victims were between five months old to 22 years old.
The age group with the most number of cases was between 11 to 20 years old – 54 cases.
In the age group between 21 to 30 years, there were 52 cases while in the 31 to 40 years old age bracket, there were 37 cases.
According to Dr. Jocelyn Te, medical officer IV of DOH Region 6, better public awareness on leptospirosis was a factor in the sharp drop in cases from 2019 to 2020.
The regional office, she said, in coordination with local government units (LGUs) stepped up their information drive.
The leptospira bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Person-to-person transmission is rare.
In the early stages of leptospirosis, 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.
“May awareness na ang mga tawo nga kon may pilas sa tiil kag kamot and mangungoma, if possible i-limit ang exposure sa uma,” Te told Panay News./PN
