There have been four suspected leptospirosis cases, including one death, in Bacolod City this January, the City Health Office (CHO) reported Friday, January 27.
The 69-year-old male fatality from Taculing developed fever, chills, cough and jaundice on December 30 and died in a Bacolod hospital on January 4, Dr. Grace Tan, CHO Environment Sanitation Division head, said
The three other suspected leptospirosis cases were in barangays Bata, Estefania and Punta Taytay.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection acquired through coming in contact with food, water or soil contaminated by urine or any body fluids of infected animals, especially rats.
Prevention and control includes not swimming or wading in water possibly contaminated with urine of infected rats or animals, Tan said.
Following exposure to contaminated water or soil, patients should go to the nearest health center and take prophylaxis within 24-48 hours, she said.
Bacolod City also had 29 new dengue cases in January, she added.
The cases were in barangays Granada, Estefania, Mandalagan and Vista Alegre – three each, Alijis, Tangub, Mansilingan and Taculing – two each, and Brgy 2 and Pahanocoy – one each.
Dengue is a viral infection spread through a bite from an infected female Aedes mosquito, Tan said.
There were also two suspected measles cases, 16 hand, foot and mouth cases, and a suspected cholera case reported in Bacolod City this month, Tan said.*