BACOLOD City Councilor Em Ang, chairperson of the City Council committee on health, urged the City Health Office (CHO) to intensify its information campaign to address the leptospirosis cases in the city.
Ang said on Thurday, August 16, the CHO should have preventive measures to stop the spread of leptospirosis.
From January to August 4 this year, Bacolod has a total of 15 suspected cases compared to 10 cases last year, with three deaths, or with an increase of 50 percent, CHO records showed
“The information campaign is very important to educate the public on how to prevent the leptospirosis,” Ang said.
She said the CHO personnel are now deployed in the field for the distribution of flyers and leaflets in various barangays.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that can occur in human and animals.
Ang urged those who have wounds to avoid wading in dirty water.
High-risk factors for leptospirosis include close association with animals and the water and soil which is contaminated with rat urine.
The bacteria then infect humans when they evade through breaks in the skin or mucous membranes or when people ingest them.
The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
Symptoms of leptospirosis include severe and persistent headaches, muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, sore throat, among others.