BACOLOD CITY – Six persons have died this year from leptospirosis here, the City Health Office said.
The latest fatality was a 20-year-old resident of Barangay Sum-ag.
The victim reportedly waded through river water and developed fever, joint pain, vomiting, and nausea.
He sought medical attention and was prescribed medication, which temporarily eased his symptoms.
However, he continued to experience headaches and intermittent fever. Two days before being hospitalized, he developed diarrhea along with persistent vomiting but remained stable.
He was admitted to the hospital on June 8 and died the following day.
The CHO said the victim died from moderate leptospirosis and kidney injury caused by multiple electrolyte imbalances.
The first five fatalities were a 52-year-old drainage cleaner from Barangay Villamonte on Jan. 25, a 47-year-old man from Barangay Banago on April 20, a 17-year-old man from Barangay Bata in May, a 43-year-old man from Barangay 2 on June 3, and a 57-year-old woman from Barangay Handumanan on June 9.
The CHO has recorded 12 leptospirosis cases as of June 14, up by 50 percent from eight cases with two deaths in the same period last year.
Barangays Handumanan and Banago recorded the highest number of cases with two each. One case each was reported in Barangays 12, 21, Estefania, Mansilingan, Bata, Villamonte, Sum-ag, and Felisa.