BACOLOD City – The City Health Office (CHO) has reported a declining trend in the number of leptospirosis cases from January to Aug. 10 this year.
Cases of the bacterial disease showed a 23.5-percent drop – only 11, lower compared to last year’s 17 in the same period.
Despite the marked decrease in cases, the CHO still reminded the public to properly collect and dispose solid waste to stop bacteria-carrying animals from spreading the disease.
Leptospirosis, according to the World Health Organization, is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. It can occur worldwide but is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, it added.
Human infection happens through “direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.”
Among the symptoms of leptospirosis
include high fever, muscle pain, eye redness, chills, severe headache,
vomiting, diarrhea or yellowish skin. Left untreated, it may lead to kidney
failure, brain damage, massive internal bleeding or death.
Last week, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution calling for
intensified information and education campaigns on leptospirosis.
Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairwoman of the Committee on Health, advised residents to work hand-in-hand to combat the threat of leptospirosis by keeping their respective surroundings clean at all times./PN
