The province of Iloilo has recorded its first death due to leptospiros, a disease caused by bacteria that spread through the urine of infected animals such as rats.
According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the fatality was a 30-year-old male farm worker from the town of Sara.
The farmer died in a district hospital on March 7. No further details were provided regarding his identity and his death.
From January 1 to March 15 this year, PHO logged 25 leptospiroses cases, including the first fatality.
The town of Dumangas accounted for the highest cases in the province at three, followed by San Miguel, Pototan, Maasin, Badiangan, Alimodian, Estancia, and Passi City with two cases each.
The towns of Oton, Pavia, Leganes, Janiuay, Leon, Batad, Lambunao and Sara registered one case each.
Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever and chills, head and muscle aches, red eyes, vomiting, and jaundice or yellow skin and eyes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the symptoms usually become apparent 5 to 14 days after contact with the bacteria. They can, however, also appear anytime from two to 30 days.
If left untreated, leptospirosis may cause kidney failure, brain damage, massive internal bleeding, and death.IMT
