By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/Philippine News Agency
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here is reminding the public against leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases as rains have been felt in the province.
Sheere Vego, Infectious, Environmental and Occupational Cluster Head of the IPHO, said in an interview on Tuesday that three cases of leptospirosis, with one death, were reported from January 1 to June 6, 2019.
“Last year, there were several cases of leptospirosis that were reported,” she said.
Based on the record of the Antique Provincial Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Unit, there were six people, who got sick of the disease from January 1 to June 6, 2018.
“The IPHO is urging the local government units to purchase Rapid Diagnostic Test kit for leptospirosis for early detection,” she said.
She said that early detection of leptospirosis is a big help so that an individual could receive proper treatment and the infection will not reach the critical stage.
Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, is commonly spread through the urine of rodents. It can enter the human body through small cuts in the skin or through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
The symptoms are fever, nausea, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Meanwhile, Vego also reminded parents of another infection commonly developed in children when they get drenched in the rain.
“It is the main responsibility of parents to remind their children not to get wet when it is raining so they won’t get sick,” she said.
She also said children should be given vitamins and taught how to eat fruits and vegetables so they won’t easily get sick.
Vego said that although the hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not water-borne but this is also commonly acquired by children and is considered a notifiable disease or illness required by law to be reported to government authorities.
“Children should be taught proper handwashing,” she said.
She said school nurses also are being instructed to teach the school kids about proper hand washing so they won’t acquire hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
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