BAGUIO CITY – Five persons died from leptospiroris here from January 1 to September 22, the City Health Services Office (CHSO) said.
The CHSO said a total of 45 cases were recorded, 38 of whom were males and seven females, with ages ranging from one to 85-years-old with a median age of 45.
Barangay Irisan had the most number of cases with 11, followed by Bakakeng Central, Asin Road, and Lourdes Subdivision Extension with three cases each; Cabinet Hill-Teacher's Camp, Fairview Village, and Gabriela Silang with two apiece, and Aurora Hill Proper, Gibraltar, and Santo Tomas Proper with one each.
Alarmed by the number of cases and deaths, Mayor Benjamin Magalong reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean and ensure adherence to sanitation standards.
The CHSO cautioned the public that cases may continue to increase with the recent heavy rains resulting in stagnant waters where leptospirosis bacteria may thrive.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects humans and animals caused by rat urine.
The bacteria can pass to humans through an open wound exposed to contaminated water or soil.
Leptospirosis signs and symptoms include high fever, severe headache, non-specific symptoms of muscle pain and calf-muscle pain, and reddish eyes in some cases.
Severe cases may result in liver involvement, kidney failure, and brain involvement, thus, some cases may have yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stools, low urine output, and severe headache.