NewsDesk @bactiman63
In a follow-up on the leptospirosis situation in Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Ministry of Health reported seven new leptospirosis cases from 15 May to 24 May.
This brings the total cases to 75 since the beginning of the year (68 laboratory confirmed and 7 clinically diagnosed).
A total of 6 deaths have been recorded since January 2023.
Leptospirosis is a disease spread by animal urine. People get infected when they come in contact with urine of infected animals or with urine-contaminated water, soil, or food.
Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), red eyes, stomach pain, diarrhea, and rarely, a rash. This disease can be deadly and in the more severe cases can cause kidney or liver failure, meningitis (swelling of the tissue covering the brain), or bleeding in the lungs.
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Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, or eliminating contact with potentially infected animals.
Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.
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