DOH: Leptospirosis outbreak in CDO

Health authorities on Monday declared a leptospirosis outbreak in Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao, one of the areas hit hard by tropical storm Sendong (Washi) last month.   Jaime Bernadas, director of the Department of Health in northern Mindanao, said they had recorded at least 128 cases of the disease, with at least five deaths.   "[Base sa clinical] diagnosis, 128 na ngayon ang nasa hospital, tapos may limang nasawi. Meron pa tayong suspect ng leptospirosis, ang confirmatory test pinadala sa RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine)," Bernadas said in an interview on dzBB radio late Monday.   He said the latest fatality was recorded Monday morning. He did not provide other details.   Citing their records, he said 80 percent of those suffering from leptospirosis were male, including the five fatalities.   Bernadas said their problem involved residents outside evacuation centers who refused to take the medicine for leptospirosis.   Some of the men got the disease while wading through floods to return to their homes, he said.   "Ang iba 'di pumasok o nagpakonsulta sa health centers sa Cagayan de Oro," Bernadas said.   The US National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus website defines leptospirosis as a rare and severe bacterial infection that occurs when people are exposed to certain environments.   It said leptospirosis is caused by exposure to several types of the Leptospira bacteria, which can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine, and occurs in warmer climates.   Risk factors include:  

• Occupational exposure: farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, trappers, veterinarians, loggers, sewer workers, rice field workers, and military personnel;
• Recreational activities: fresh water swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trail biking in warm areas;
• Household exposure: pet dogs, domesticated livestock, rainwater catchment systems, and infected rodents

  Symptoms can take two to 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:  

• Dry cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Shaking chills

  Less common symptoms include:  

• Abdominal pain
• Abnormal lung sounds
• Bone pain
• Conjunctivitis
• Enlarged lymph glands
• Enlarged spleen or liver
• Joint aches
• Muscle rigidity
• Muscle tenderness
• Skin rash
• Sore throat

  - KBK, GMA News