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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Philippines : Probe on leptospirosis cases pushed

Article via Sun Star :

" ILONGGO Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is pushing for an inquiry into the alarming increase of leptospirosis cases in Western Visayas.

Santiago came up with Senate Resolution No. 583 that calls for an inquiry into the cases after she got the report of the Department of Health (DOH) that there are at least 290 cases and 29 deaths to date this year in Western Visayas.

Of those cases, Negros Occidental had 66 cases with eight deaths; Capiz had 17 with five deaths; Bacolod City had 19 with one death; Iloilo City had 17 with two deaths; Antique had nine and Guimaras had four cases.

The province of Iloilo topped the leptospirosis chart with 158 cases, including 13 deaths.

Leptospirosis is a potentially deadly disease caused by direct exposure to bacteria found in urine of infected animals, especially rats.

Dr. Ma. Jocelyn Te, DOH regional director for Emerging/Re-emerging Diseases Prevention and Control, urged the public to avoid wading in floodwaters and to wear boots to avoid the deadly disease."

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