DOH warns public against leptospirosis

CEBU, Philippines - Even if there were only seven persons afflicted with leptospirosis in Cebu City, city health officials are advising the public not to wade in floodwaters unless wearing rubber boots.

Durinda Macasocol, assistant head of the City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, said until now no casualties have been reported from those afflicted with the disease.

Macasocol said people in Cebu City are lucky because in other areas of the country, the number of cases involving leptospirosis is higher.

Records of the Department of Health (DOH) showed that from January to May 2011, 454 cases of leptospirosis were reported in the country, which is way higher than the 260 cases in the  same period last year.

There were 32 deaths recorded this year while in 2010, there were only eight casualties.

In Cebu City last year, there were two deaths reported because of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is an infection commonly transmitted to humans from water that was contaminated by animal urine, mostly rats.

Health officials said the best defense against leptospirosis is not to wade in floodwaters and to wear protective boots if wading in dirty waters could not be prevented, particularly during floods in low land areas.

The symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, chills, intense headache and in extreme cases, complications like meningitis, renal failure and respiratory distress that sometimes lead to death. — (FREEMAN)