KALIBO, Aklan – The province of Aklan logged two new deaths due to leptospirosis.
The Aklan Provincial Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit reported that of the five deaths from Jan. 1 to Nov. 8, the latest two leptospirosis cases were from Numancia and Makato.
The towns of Banga and Malay also registered fatalities due to leptospirosis.
Kalibo vice mayor Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz said the bacterial infection is spread through urine from dogs, rodents and farm animals.
Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics, including penicillin and doxycycline.
The typical symptoms are fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash and muscle ache.
The leptospirosis victim from Makato was reported on Oct. 30, while the other patient from Numancia died on Nov. 1.
The 62-year-old male from Makato, Aklan suffered from body weakness, muscle pain and fever. He was admitted to the Aklan provincial hospital on Oct. 30.
He had history of wading through flood waters before contracting the disease.
A resident of Numancia, Aklan also died of leptospirosis in a private hospital in Kalibo, Aklan on Nov. 1 after direct contact with floodwaters on Oct. 28.
Health authorities advised the public to avoid wading through floodwater or swimming in rivers suspected to be contaminated by animal urine.
Patients are also encouraged to visit their rural health units and health care provider for evaluation after being exposed to flood waters./PN
