Leptospirosis Cases Surge in Pangasinan by 80% with 18 Deaths

Lingayen, Pangasinan — Health authorities in Pangasinan expressed alarm over the sudden upsurge of leptospirosis cases which already ballooned to 129 with 18 death so far registered from January 1 to date.

This was revealed by Dr. Anna de Guzman, provincial health officer, who also said this is 80 percent higher than the cases registered for the whole year of 2015 which stood at 70 cases with only seven deaths.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the exposure of a person to floodwaters contaminated by the urine of mice which enters the body through open wounds, especially in the feet, she said.

Of the 18 fatalities this year, 10 were from Dagupan which was severely affected by recurrent floods caused by days of monsoon rains sometime in August.

The other fatalities are Binmaley, Mangaldan, Bayambang, San Fabian, Manaoag, Sison, San Nicolas and Tayug.

De Guzman said since it is still rainy season, people must wear protective boots whenever they wade in flooded waters.

Although leptospirosis cases rose by 80 percent this year over that of last year’s, dengue cases decreased this year by 60 percent over the cases registered in 2014, said De Guzman.

There were 2.853 cases of dengue registered this year with at least 14 persons reported to have died in contrast with last year’s 3,330 cases with 18 deaths.

De Guzman said deaths in leptospirosis and dengue occur when the patients were brought to hospitals already in late stages. (PNA) LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA