DHS/Public Health is informing the Public that there has been an increase of Leptospirosis or Lepto in different villages and municipalities of our island.
Lepto is spread by animals such as rats, pigs and dogs urine in the water or soil. The germ gets into your body through cuts and scratches of your skin. It can also get through the pink, moist tissues call "mucous membranes" that line your mouth, nose and eyes.
Symptoms of Lepto are fever, shanking chills, muscle aches, headaches. Other symptoms are dry cough, whites of the eyes turning red, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, pain in the joints and bones and sore throat.
Lepto can be fatal if not treated immediately. Always remember to wash your hands with clean running water with soap before touching your food or face. Avoid mud puddles and standing water or water that drains from a pig pen or water that may have animal waste in it.
Come to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms or call Jason Figir Sulog at Environmental Health Services/Sanitation at Public Health at 350-2110 or 350-3446 during working hours.
