Cases of leptospirosis have increased by 100 percent in Negros Occidental compared to last year, with one death reported, Dr. Luisa Efren, Provincial Health Officer II, said yesterday.

She said, however, that dengue cases have dropped this year.

Efren said that from January to August this year cases of leptospirosis increased to 22 from 11 last year.

The cases were in Murcia - five ; Talisay City and Bago City - three each; Ilog, La Castellana and Manapla - two each; and Moises Padilla, Toboso and Don Salvador Benedicto - one each. Vicente Lim Jr., 19, of Brgy. 2. Manapla, died of leptospirosis at the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Hospital on Aug. 21, she added.

Leptospirosis is transmitted through the entry of leptospira bacteria through wounds during contact with flood waters, vegetation, moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, specially rats, she said.

The Provincial Health Office has been providing technical assistance to local governments for information education and communication in the community, specifically on prevention and control.

Also being provided are medicines, specifically antibiotics duly prescribed by a physician, she said.

Meanwhile, Efren said that while Manila has declared a dengue alert, cases have dropped in Negros Occidental compared to last year.

She said that from January to August this year there were 553 dengue cases in Negros Occidental compared to 1,781 in the same period last year.

Efren stressed the need to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and to keep surroundings clean to prevent dengue.*CPG

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