The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) recently revealed 22 cases of leptospirosis, a type of bacterial disease, were reported in 2017, up from the 16 reported in the previous year.

There were also seven deaths associated with the disease last year.

CHO Environment Sanitation Division head, Dr. Grace Tan, said no cases of leptospirosis have been recorded in 2018.

She pointed out advisories will soon go out regarding the disease and advised farmers, and those prone to leptospirosis, to wear boots and not wade in floodwaters.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caught by touching soil or water contaminated with the urine of an infected animal, with symptoms including high fever, severe headache, chills, red eyes, muscle pain, and abdominal pain.

Last month, Tan pointed out one of the individuals said to have died from dengue fever may have actually succumbed to the bacterial disease as symptoms can be similar./NC, WDJ