• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The City Health Office (CHO) reported Feb. 17 the first leptospirosis fatality in Bacolod this year.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environmental Sanitation Division, said the victim was a 52-year-old-male from Barangay Villamonte, who sought consultation and was referred for admission Jan. 25 due to breathing difficulty.
He died the following day.
Tan said the patient claimed to frequently clean esteros without wearing boots and gloves.
The CHO said it logged four leptospirosis cases, with one death, in the first six weeks of this year.
This is 20 percent lower than the five cases with one death recorded in the same period last year, Tan added.
She also said that 124 dengue cases were logged from Jan. 1 to Feb. 8, or 96.8 percent higher compared to 63 cases in the same period in 2024.
The barangays with highest dengue cases, so far, include Mansilingan with 12, Tangub with 11, and 10 each in Alijis, Singcang, and Villamonte.
Leptospirosis and dengue are among the W.I.L.D (water and food-borne, influenza-like illnesses, leptospirosis, and dengue) diseases being monitored by the Department of Health with increased rainfall and thunderstorms due to the shear line, intertropical convergence zone, and easterlies.
It reminds the public to practice proper hygiene and self-protection against these weather-induced diseases.
“The public is urged to seek medical attention if exposed to floodwater, even if there are no wounds, as (leptospirosis) symptoms may appear from an average of two weeks but up to 30 days later,” the DOH stressed in an advisory.
Seek early consultation, search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, use self-protection by applying anti-repellant lotions and wearing long sleeves and pants when possible, and support fogging in hotspot areas, it added.
The public is also advised to practice proper handwashing with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces in public places.
“Seek early medical consultation to ensure timely treatment and prevent complications if you experience any symptoms of W.I.L.D diseases, like fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea,” the DOH added. | CGC
