LINGAYEN–Health authorities expressed alarm over the increasing number of leptospirosis cases in the province this year which already ballooned to 129 with 18 deaths so far recorded from January to October 3, with still three more months before the year ends.

Dr. Anna de Guzman, Provincial Health Officer, said only 71 cases with seven deaths from leptospirosis were recorded by her office for the same period last year or 80 percent increase.

Leprospirosis is a disease caused by the virus leptospira produced by the urine of mice that often mixes with floodwaters that can enter the person’s body through open wounds, usually in the feet when wading through flood water or in wet rice fields.

Of the 18 fatalities from leptospirosis this year, 10 are in Dagupan which was severely affected by recurrent flood caused by days of monsoon rains sometime in August.

The other fatalities are in Binmaley, Mangaldan, Bayambang, San Fabian, Manaoag, Sison, San Nicolas and Tayug.

Meanwhile, the PHO registered 2,853 cases of dengue, 14 of whom died from January to Oct. 3 this year, which is a little bit lower than last year’s 3,330 cases with 18 deaths for the same period.

De Guzman attributed the deaths in both leptospirosis and dengue to the failure of the patients to seek immediate medical treatment in the early stages.

Because leptospirosis and dengue have the same symptoms as flu, the victims tend to self-medicate and only seek professional medical treatment when it is already too late, De Guzman said.

Of the 14 deaths due to dengue, five were in Dagupan and the others from Calasiao, Urdaneta, Binalonan, Umingan, San Carlos City, Dasol, Bani and Villasis.

She advised all those feeling flu-like symptoms not to waste time to immediately seek professional medical attention. (Leonardo Micua)

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