Malaysia reports nearly 2,800 leptospirosis cases so far this year
The Malaysian Health Ministry is reporting a total of 2,775 cases of the spirochetal disease, leptospirosis, as of Aug. 10 this year, according to a New Strait Times report.
Of the total cases reported so far, 23, or less than 1 percent, have resulted in death.
Image/CIA
This compares with 2011 and 2012, which had 2,268 cases with 55 deaths and 3,665 with 48 deaths, respectively.
Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Dr Chong Chee Kheong cautioned the public against patronising unclean food outlets, to avoid water activity during the rainy season and practise proper waste disposal at home to avoid attracting rodents as well as maintain personal hygiene at all times.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by the corkscrew shaped organism, Leptospira. It goes by several other names depending on the locale; mud fever, swamp fever, sugar cane and Fort Bragg fever, among others. It is a disease of both humans and animals.
The rat is the main host to Leptospira. However, other animals such as cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals can carry the bacterium.
People become infected by direct or indirect contact with the urine of these animals. Contact with urine-contaminated water is extremely important. Contaminated food and soil containing animal urine are other potential sources of infection.
The bacterium enters through contact with skin. Especially through cuts or breaks in the skin and through mucous membranes like the eyes.
Found worldwide, it was long considered an occupational disease (miners, farming, vets, and sugarcane harvesting and sewer workers), it is increasingly associated with recreational water sports and camping.
Symptoms of leptospirosis, if present, appear in up to 4 weeks after exposure. Sometimes the person will show no symptoms or mild flu-likesymptoms.
According to the CDC, Leptospirosis may occur in two phases; after the first phase, with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea, the patient may recover for a time but become ill again. If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure (jaundice) or meningitis. This phase is also called Weil’s disease.
Leptospirosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a blood or urine sample.
The infection can be treated with antibiotics (penicillin and doxycycline), especially if started early in the disease. For very ill patients, intensive care support and IV antibiotic may be necessary.
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