ILOILO City – Health authorities have warned residents against the potentially deadly consequences of exposure to floodwater after Iloilo City recorded 21 leptospirosis cases from January to August, while a shoe repairman from Barangay San Juan, Molo district died of a suspected infection following possible contact with floodwater.
The death, which has yet to be confirmed as a leptospirosis case, has heightened health concerns following heavy rains and flooding that exposed residents in several communities to potentially contaminated water.
Dr. Jenifer Castro, assistant city health officer, said the City Health Office (CHO) is awaiting laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to determine whether leptospirosis caused the man’s death.
The CHO warned residents who waded through floodwater or otherwise came into contact with it to closely monitor their health for symptoms of leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease commonly contracted through exposure to water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Flooding increases the risk of infection as contaminated water can enter the body through cuts, wounds, abrasions or mucous membranes.
Castro said fever and body aches are among the symptoms residents should watch for following floodwater exposure. She warned that untreated leptospirosis can become severe and lead to kidney failure and difficulty breathing.
Residents exposed to floodwater were also urged to seek medical advice on preventive medication.
“Those who have been exposed to floodwater should take doxycycline,” Castro said.
Doxycycline is available at the city’s district health centers, according to Castro, but she stressed that the medication should be taken only under the guidance of a doctor, nurse or midwife.
The city’s 21 recorded leptospirosis cases from January to August underscore the health threat posed by contaminated floodwater, particularly following the recent flooding that affected several barangays.
Castro urged residents not to dismiss fever, body aches and other symptoms developing after floodwater exposure and to immediately seek medical attention to prevent the infection from progressing to potentially life-threatening complications./PN
