Jakarta (ANTARA) – Head of the communication and public services bureau of the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said here on Wednesday, that as of December 2022, at least 1,408 cases of leptospirosis have been reported by provincial health offices to the ministry.Of the total patients, 139 have succumbed to the disease, she said. ccording to the ministry, leptospirosis is a disease caused by leptospira, a bacteria which can spread through the urine or blood of infected animals. Some animals that can carry the infection are rats, cows, dogs, and pigs. The disease can also spread through soil and water that has been contaminated with infected body fluids. One can get infected with the disease upon coming in contact with infected mediums. “Leptospirosis can also cause death even though the rate is low,” she added. She called on the public to be aware of leptospirosis, which often appears in areas that are frequently affected by flooding. The provinces with the highest number of leptospirosis cases are Central Java with 502 cases and 70 deaths (case fatality rate/CFR 13.94 percent), East Java with 401 cases and 14 deaths (CFR 3.49 percent), Yogyakarta with 235 cases and 13 deaths (CFR 5.53 percent), West Java with 187 cases and 30 deaths (CFR 16.04 percent), Banten with 64 cases and 12 deaths (CFR 18.75 percent), and Jakarta with 7 cases and zero deaths (CFR 0). “Those are provinces which routinely detect and report leptospirosis cases. (This) Does not necessarily mean that other provinces have zero, no case. Maybe those were not reported,” she informed. The symptoms of leptospirosis appear two to four weeks after infection and include fever, headache, nausea, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and red eyes, among others. The disease can be avoided by using protective gear such as gloves, boots, and goggles while working in places where the leptospira bacteria may linger. One must also close wounds with water-resistant band-aid before using water, avoid direct contact with a contaminated water body, and vaccinate livestock animals or pets. baca-jugaRelated news: Central Java works to reduce leptospirosis casesRelated news: Leptospirosis threatens Yogyakarta this rainy season

Source: Antara News Agecny