Fewer leptospirosis cases recorded in first 10 months of 2010

The Department of Health (DOH) recorded fewer cases of leptospirosis during the first ten months of the year compared to last year, but still warned the public of the deadly disease, which is mainly transmitted through flood waters. A total of 690 leptospirosis cases — 131 of which were from Metro Manila — were recorded by the DOH from January to October this year, National Epidemiology Center chief Dr. Eric Tayag said Thursday. The figure is almost half the number of leptospirosis cases recorded for the same period last year, which Tayag pegged at around 1,500. “Syempre mas mataas ang cases natin last year dahil nga nag-Ondoy. Pero kailangan pa rin mag-ingat lalo na ngayon madalas umulan," Tayag said in an interview with GMANews.TV on Thursday. (Of course we had a bigger number of cases last year because of Ondoy’s floods. But we still need to be careful especially with the frequent rains now.) He reminded the public to remain alert of possible symptoms of leptospirosis such as fever, muscle pain, headache, red eyes and in severe cases, kidney and liver failure. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the close contact of an open wound with flood waters and soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats. The DOH recorded a huge increase in leptospirosis cases in October last year, a month after cyclone “Ondoy" brought heavy flooding and devastation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon. (See: DOH braces for further rise in leptospirosis cases)—Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV