NDRRMC: Leptospirosis deaths in Sendong-hit areas rise to 24

At least 24 people have died of leptospirosis in areas hit by Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Monday.

 

In its 8 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said at least 377 leptospirosis had been recorded in hospitals in Region X as of Sunday.

 

The NDRRMC said that of the 377 cases, 258 were in Cagayan de Oro City and 119 in Iligan City.

 

Of these, eight died in Cagayan de Oro and 16 died in Iligan, the NDRRMC said. The two cities are the hardest-hit areas.

 

It was an increase from the 16 deaths from leptospirosis reported last Jan. 10.

 

Health authorities in Iligan are continuously monitoring evacuation centers while those in Caraga conducted medical consultations and psycho-social assessment and intervention.

 

The NDRRMC said Sendong had affected 120,233 families or 1,141,252 people in 815 villages in 57 towns and eight cities in 13 provinces.

 

Of these, 5,668 families or 26,473 people are in 56 evacuation centers.

 

The death toll remained at 1,257 with 6,063 injured and 181 missing.

 

Estimated damage to property increased slightly to P1,455,825,723.40; including P1,142,993,824.40 in infrastructure and P312,831,899 in agriculture. Leptospirosis

 

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:

 

 

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

 

 

Less common symptoms include:

 

— RSJ, GMA News