Leptospirosis kills 18 in Negros Occ.

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Leptospirosis cases in Negros Occ. hiked by 515 percent, from 20 cases in 2010 to 123 this year, killing 18 persons, according to provincial health officer Ernel Tumimbang.

The period covered from January 1 to November of this year and the same period last year. In 2010, only three deaths were noted.

Most persons stricken were males aged 22 to 29, with 38 victims, and aged 30 to 39 with 26 victims. These age ranges belonged to the workforce, said Tumimbang.

Tumimbang explained that government physicians believed males working in rice and sugarcane fields are the ones mostly affected by the disease because parts of their body are exposed to water.

Rats, believed to be one of the main carriers of the disease, store their refuse and urine in water and an open wound contact to the germs causes one to get leptospirosis.

Physicians surmised that the increased rats population could be the reason why cases of the disease rose in the province.

PHO is now advising farm workers to coordinate with their local agriculture office who have the knowledge in bringing down rat population, if not, eliminate it.

Workers were also advised to maintain proper personal hygiene and to always have clean surroundings. — With reports from Lorenzo Lambatin Jr.