AVOID WADING IN FLOODWATERS TO PREVENT LEPTOSPIROSIS – DOH
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PDFHealth Secretary Enrique Ona today advised the public not to wade in floodwaters but instead, to wearrubber boots when walking in flooded streets to avoid leptospirosis as the number of cases reported nationwide is increasing.
From January this year up to 21 May 2011, there were 454 cases reported and this figure is 74.6% higher compared to the same period last year (260 cases). There were 32 deaths recorded; last year, there were only 8.
“Leptospirosis is an infection commonly transmitted to humans from water that has been contaminated by animal urine (usually rats), and comes in contact with lesion in the skin, eyes, or with the mucous membranes,” the health chief explained. He added that the best defense against leptospirosis is not to wade in floodwater but to wear protective boots, if wading is necessary or cannot be prevented.
Most of cases came from Western Visayas (131 cases), Bicol Region (51), and Central Luzon (50). Ages of cases ranged from one month to 69 years. Majority (87%) of the cases were male. Most (39%) of the cases belonged to the 25-39 years age group.
Health authorities said that a possible reason why Western Visayas recorded the most number of cases was that the region was endemic for leptospirosis, hence, medical professionals and health workers had a high level of awareness of the disease’s signs and symptoms resulting in a high number of detected cases; meanwhile, the Bicol and Central Luzon regions were greatly affected by typhoon Bebeng during the first week of May this year, which may have contributed to the high number of leptospirosis cases in these regions.
Leptosporosis’ signs and symptoms include fever, chills, intense headache. In extreme cases, complications like meningitis, renal failure, respiratory distress, may arise and lead to death.
“The rainy season is not yet over, so we are reiterating our advise to the people to prevent leptospirosis by avoiding, as much as possible, wading in floodwaters. We emphasize that they should wear boots if wading cannot be avoided,” Ona concluded.
