CITY OF MALOLOS: Five persons died in Bulacan due to leptospirosis, the Provincial Health Office-Public Health (PHO-PH) said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Governor Daniel Fernando said two of the five deaths came from the City of San Jose del Monte, and one each from the towns of Balagtas, Calumpit, and Obando.
He said the deaths were recorded in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina on July 24.
Based on the PHO-PH advisory, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10 this year, 58 suspected leptospirosis cases were logged in the province.
Although the cases were 3 percent lower compared to the same period last year, Fernando reminded Bulakenyos to be extra careful, noting that all towns and cities of the province were affected by the floods caused by “Carina” enhanced by the southwest monsoon.
‘Due to the brunt of the typhoon that we experienced last month, your servant knew that most of us could not avoid wading in the flood. My only request is that we thoroughly clean our body afterwards, as well as our surroundings after
the flood subsides. This way, we will avoid giving home to rats, which is one of the causes of this disease,’ he said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, the PHO-PH distributed 57,000 capsules or 570 boxes of doxycycline to cities, municipalities, and public hospitals as prophylaxis or preventive treatment for leptospirosis.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, head and legs, red eyes, and in severe cases, the urine may turn yellow, dark, and less in quantity.
According to the World Health Organization, leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals.
Source: Philippines News Agency
