DOH issues leptospirosis warning

With the intermittent rains being experienced in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public yesterday against leptospirosis, a debilitating disease associated with flooding.

Dr. Vito Roque Jr., head of the surveillance unit of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said leptospirosis cases tend to increase during rainy days because of massive flooding.

"We advise the public to avoid wading in flood water.  If they can’t avoid this, they must at least wear boots.  Seven days after a flood, we can see people developing leptospirosis," he noted.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial illness common in tropical countries like the Philippines. 

The disease is caused by leptospira interrogans, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium that comes from the urine of wild animals, particularly rats.

Roque added that people with broken skin or open wounds are at risk of contracting the disease if they wade in floodwater contaminated with urine of an infected animal.

The illness can also be acquired from contaminated wet soil or vegetation.

Health experts warned that the bacteria can also enter the body if a person swallows contaminated water when swimming.

The illness is characterized by fever, chills, vomiting and nausea, eye inflammation, muscle aches and headaches.

It could become fatal when the bacterium attacks the organs, causing damage to the liver and kidney and lead to internal bleeding.