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Health authorities in Holguín are on alert due to the risk of increased infection rates of leptospirosis following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which caused flooding and contaminated waters conducive to the spread of this deadly bacteria.
Current conditions, with the flow of contaminated waters, facilitate the infection of individuals through wounds, primarily in the areas of the feet, legs, and hands, reported on November 27th by the provincial station Radio Angulo on its digital page.
Due to the accumulation of garbage and the proliferation of mosquitoes, the city of Holguín is facing a serious health deterioration, which has caused illnesses in both adults and children, particularly in the Lenin neighborhood, reported residents of the city a few days ago.
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira interrogans, a bacterium that affects humans as well as various mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, including notable hosts like dogs and rodents.
Historically, this disease reaches high rates in the province of Holguín, where poor sanitary conditions and the raising of animals such as pigs are constant sources of infection through direct contact with their urine.
The provincial health system has established an epidemiological alert aimed at providing treatment to patients who seek medical services with suggestive symptoms.
Health authorities recommended that rice growers, individuals crossing swollen streams, livestock breeders, and agricultural workers take basic protective measures such as wearing gloves, work boots, and frequently washing their hands after being exposed to risky activities.
In humans, the bacteria enter the body through the skin or mucous membranes, enter the bloodstream, and attack various organs such as the liver and kidneys.
It is eliminated through urine, and contact with it is a means of transmission. The illness can last from a few days to three weeks or longer, depending on the severity.
The most evident symptoms of this zoonosis are fever, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, and pain in the calf area. However, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and even bleeding can also occur.
Health authorities have warned that one should not wait for symptoms to evolve or worsen, as patients would arrive too late for medical services. This is an illness that can complicate and lead to severe forms, where treatment becomes more complex.
Radio Angulo advised keeping the environment clean and orderly, avoiding bathing in reservoirs, wells, or rivers, using gloves and boots while working with animals, and preventing the proliferation of rodents in homes through proper waste disposal.
The state media warned that one should not walk without protection in pig pens or barefoot in muddy yards, as an effective way to protect the feet, the main entry point for this bacteria.
Melissa's passage left Holguín with extensive flooded areas and collapsed drainage systems, creating ideal conditions for the spread of leptospirosis.
The province is now facing the challenge of recovering from the material damage caused by the cyclone and containing a possible epidemic that especially threatens rural communities and agricultural workers who are most exposed to contaminated waters.
Additionally, following the impact of the meteor, the eastern territory is experiencing an epidemiological deterioration and an increase in febrile syndromes marked by the circulation of chikungunya and serotype four of dengue.
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