By MAE SINGUAY
The Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) has logged another fatality from leptospirosis in the city, bringing the total number of deaths to six.
Grace Tan, chief of the CHO’s Environmental Sanitation Division, said the latest victim was a 20-year-old male and a resident of Barangay Sum-ag.
He had a history of swimming in the river less than a week prior to the onset of fever, Tan said.
Six days before his hospital admission, the patient also experienced joint pain, vomiting and nausea.
He was advised to take paracetamol and seek consultation, Tan said.
The patient’s symptoms were relieved, but after a while he experienced headaches and fever, along with diarrhea associated with vomiting.
He succumbed due to suspected leptospirosis on June 9, she said.
The first two fatalities from leptospirosis for this year were a 52-year-old drainage cleaner from Barangay Villamonte on January 25, and a 47-year-old resident of Barangay Banago on April 20.
The fourth was a 43-year-old male from Barangay 21, and the fifth was a 57-year-old female from Barangay Handumanan.
The total number of leptospirosis cases in Bacolod is now 12, higher by 50 percent than the eight cases and two deaths recorded last year.
The CHO recorded three cases in June.
Two cases were reported each in Barangays Banago and Handumanan.
One leptospirosis case was recorded each in Barangays 12, 21, Bata, Estefania, Mansilingan, Sum-ag, Felisa, and Villamonte.
Tan noticed that most of the patients failed to seek immediate medical attention.
“Basta naka-ubog or contact sa tubig-baha kag imburnal, magpa-health center gid para matagaan prophylaxis. Don’t wait nga maglain pa ang pamatyag,” Tan said.
The CHO encourages anyone to take leptospirosis prophylaxis as soon as possible following exposure, wading, or contact with possibly contaminated water, ground or food, or immediately consult the nearest health center or private physician for prescription.
Leptospirosis is contracted from exposure to water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals, especially rats, through cuts, wounds and abrasions on the skin./MS, WDJ