Eight die of leptospirosis
CASES RISING
SAN CARLOS CITY—With the prolonged flooding in the province, five people from various parts of Pangasinan died of leptospirosis at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) here this month, in addition to three others who were reported to have died from August 14 to 19 in Dagupan City.
Dr. Policarpio Manuel, officer-in-charge of the PPH, said the five were referred by various hospitals and were already under the late stages of leptospirosis and suffering from renal failure and other complications when they arrived at the PPH.
The fatalities include farmers, fishermen and carpenters from Bani, Sual, Binmaley, Sta. Barbara, and Sto. Tomas, all of whom are adults from 27 to 40 years old.
These towns were among the flooded areas last week following days of heavy monsoon rains compounded later by Tropical Storm Helen.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported as of August 20 that leptospirosis cases have reached 26, almost 50% higher compared to the previous year at 14 cases.
Municipalities with suspected leptospirosis cases are: San Jacinto (3), Lingayen (2), Bayambang (2), Sta. Barbara (2), Urdaneta City (2), Dagupan City (2), Alaminos (1), Bani (1), Burgos (1), Sual (1), Urbiztondo (1), Binmaley (1), Mangaldan (1), San Carlos City (1), San Fabian (1), Sto. Tomas (1), Asingan (1), Manaoag (1), and Umingan (1).
Manuel said they have only one leptospirosis patient now who is about to be discharged.
On orders of Governor Amado Espino Jr., all leptospirosis patients will get free hospitalization provided they stay in the wards and not in private rooms.
R1MC
Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Canto, spokesperson of Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City, reported that aside from the listed leptospirosis fatalities from Dagupan this August, other fatalities were from Bani and Sta. Barbara towns.
The dead were identified as Oliver Maramba, 25, of Mayombo; John Mark Tello, 25, of Poblacion Oeste; and Alfredo Caadiang, 19, of Pantal.
Noting the rise of leptospirosis in Dagupan, city health authorities have launched “leptospirosis watch” and intensified distribution of doxycycline anti-biotic for persons who have waded in flooded waters.
Canto called on the public, especially the farmers, to wear protective boots when they visit their fields or wade in flooded waters. He also advised parents not to let their children swim in flooded waters.
The bacteria leptospira, which come from the urine of infected rats and usually mix into floodwater, can enter open wounds in the body.
Flu-like symptoms signal infection.
OTHER DISEASES
Aside from leptospirosis, health authorities are also on alert for other water-borne diseases such as diarrhea which could lead to cholera and Acute Gastro-Enteritis (AGE).
PPH records show that from January to August this year, 850 persons from various parts of the province were admitted showing symptoms of diarrhea
Manuel noted that it has been years since there was an upsurge of AGE in Pangasinan, especially in the central part.
He urged all residents in the flooded areas to always boil their drinking water.–with report from Johanne Margarette R. Macob
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