DOH: Killer 'mystery disease' in Zambo was leptospirosis

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Friday that leptospirosis was the "mystery disease" that downed at least 20 people and killed four others in Sibuco town, Zamboanga del Norte last week. In a press briefing, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said a team from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) traveled to Sibuco town to determine the cause of the illness. Last week, health officials from Western Mindanao could not figure out the cause of the illness that plagued the fishing town of Sibuco. Tayag said residents of Sibuco reportedly experienced bloating and numbness, which health officials initially thought was caused by either chemical poisoning or vitamin deficiency. After examinations by RITM, the DOH confirmed that the "mystery disease" was leptospirosis. Tayag noted that the DOH found out that it has been raining in Sibuco the past weeks and that there are animals living in the area. Not the usual symptoms Tayag said the health department did not initially diagnose it a leptospirosis because the patients' initial symptoms were not the usual characteristics of leptospirosis. The usual symptoms of leptospirosis are high-grade fever, muscle pain and nausea. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection usually found in water, vegetation or moist soil contaminated with animal urine, especially rat urine. Treatable disease Tayag said leptospirosis is treatable when detected early, but it can lead to organ failure and even death if one does not seek medical help immediately. "'Pag kayo ay nagtampisaw sa basang bahagi ng lupa, tubig-baha at may sugat (kayo) sa binti, tapos may karamdaman na may kinalaman sa pananakit ng kasukasuhan at lagnat ay mag-suspetya na kayo na baka leptospirosis 'yan," he said. However, Tayag also said that symptoms of leptospirosis can manifest in other ways, as in the case of the patients in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. He said the safest thing to do is to seek medical attention if a person is not feeling well after being exposed to flood water. DOH data show that 521 cases of leptospirosis were reported nationwide between January and May 2011, and the health department expects the number of cases to rise during the rainy season. People are advised not to swim or wade in flood water, or to use proper protection like boots and gloves when required to wade in flood water. The DOH also advised the public to rain flood water, and control rats in the household by maintaining cleanliness in the house and by using traps. - VVP, GMA News