Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Health officials warn people against water-borne diseases
WITH the onset of heavy rains, the Cebu City Health Department warned against the possible increase of infectious diseases including leptospirosis, which already claimed the lives of two city residents.
Contaminated water and food may also cause cholera, diarrhea, typhoid fever and hepatitis A, the City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit (CESSU) warned.
City Assistant Epidemiologist Durinda Macasocol said the public should not only be vigilant against dengue fever during the rainy season but also other food- and water-borne diseases.
Rise in cases
“With the coming of the rainy season, everyone is enjoined to be on alert for the common food and water borne disease and dengue fever. Expectedly, these diseases would rise, but it could be prevented and controlled through healthy practices and measures,” CESSU’s health advisory read.
Although preventable, diarrhea is often taken for granted that is why it resulted in 26 deaths from Jan. 1 to Sept. 16 this year. There were 2,216 cases recorded for the period.
The number, though, is fewer compared to the same period last year when 2,815 cases were recorded with 34 deaths.
CESSU also recorded five cases and two deaths due to leptospirosis so far this year. There were 14 cases and six deaths in the same period last year.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease transmitted when an open wound comes into contact with water, moist soil and vegetation contaminated with urine and feces of infected animals, usually rodents.
Wading in floods or body of water is a common source of infection.
Warning
“If there is floodwater in a specific area, residents should refrain from exposing themselves to the flood especially if they have open wounds. But if it cannot be avoided in their line of work, then they should wear boots and other protective gear,” Macasocol advised.
Three other deaths were recorded due to hepatitis A and cholera.
So far this year, there are already two cases of cholera, both of which resulted in death. There were four cases recorded in the same period last year but there were no deaths.
The CESSU also listed 44 cases of hepatitis A with one death so far this year. At least 116 cases of typhoid fever were also recorded from Jan. 1 to Sept. 16. No deaths have been recorded so far. (LCR)
