By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) Environment and Sanitation Division head, Dr. Grace Tan, confirmed there is one suspected leptospirosis-related death in the city.
During a press conference held yesterday morning, as of June 23, they have recorded 13 suspected leptospirosis cases in the city.
Tan explained the cases are considered “suspected” because they are still waiting for laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila.
The number of cases is higher by 62.5 percent as compared to the same period last year, where there were eight cases recorded with three fatalities.
Based on current data, Tan said the fatality was a 63-year-old Burgos Public Market vendor from Barangay 19.
The said patient was said to be exhibiting an intermittent fever last month, which lasted for seven days with non-specific signs and symptoms.
Three days prior to hospitalization, the patient experienced a decrease in appetite and urine output. Blood was also detected in the patient’s urine sample.
“On the day of admission, he never woke up and he passed away the following day,” Tan added.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) earlier confirmed a total of eight reported fatalities in Negros Occidental due to leptospirosis.
PHO head, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, said there are currently around 85 to 86 cases in the province.
He added, based on records from January to December of last year, there were 174 cases, which resulted in 10 fatalities. The PHO head pointed out, the fatality rate for leptospirosis is usually about one percent.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caught by touching soil or water contaminated with the urine of an infected animal, such as rats; with symptoms including high fever, severe headache, chills, red eyes, muscle pain, and abdominal pain.
Tumimbang also advised against wading in flood waters, especially those living in heavily-populated areas where rats often congregate.
He suggested wearing rain boots if required to wade through flood waters.
Parents are also advised to stop their children from bathing or swimming in flood waters, while farmers must take adequate precautions when working in the fields during flooding.
Patients with leptospirosis are advised to seek immediate medical attention if they contracted the infection./DGB, WDJ