Five persons have died in Baguio due to leptospirosis, according to the City Health Services Office.
A total of 45 cases were reported from January 1 to Sept. 22, 38 of whom were male and seven were female.
Age ranges from one to 85 years old with a median age of 45.
Barangay Irisan had the most number of cases with 11 cases followed by Bakakeng Central, Asin Road, Lourdes Subdivision Extension with three cases each; Cabinet Hill-Teachers’ Camp, Fairview Village, Gabriela Silang with two cases each; and Aurora Hill Proper, Gibraltar, and Santo Tomas Proper with one case 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 as cases of leptospirosis continue to increase.
The CHSO cautioned the public that cases may continue to increase with the recent heavy rains leaving stagnant waters where leptospirosis bacteria may thrive.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects humans and animals caused by urines from rats. The bacteria can pass to humans through an open wound exposed to contaminated water or soil.
The public is advised to clean up and ensure pest control and sanitation in their homes to help control the disease.
Signs and symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, non-specific symptoms of muscle pain, calf-muscle pain, and reddish eyes in some cases.
Severe cases may result in liver involvement, kidney failure, brain involvement and therefore some cases may have yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stools, low urine output and severe headache.
The public is advised to seek medical attention if experiencing any of the signs and symptoms. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan