Puerto Rico’s Department of Health reported this Monday At least 3 people died on the island after Hurricane Fiona and 160 leptospirosis warnings were issued.This caused severe flooding, which favored the rebound in these disease cases.
One of the deaths of a 76-year-old man in the Arecibo area (north) has been confirmed; a second person – a 77-year-old man in Ponce (south) – is considered probable; and a third are classified as suspects, corresponding to an 85-year-old man from Ponce. As for the cases, according to the latest report of the Ministry of Health, 4 confirmed, 20 probable, 84 suspected and 52 under investigation. According to data from the Weekly Leptospirosis Surveillance Report, the majority of reported cases were male (78%) with a mean age of 41 years.
Health Director Carlos Mellado urged citizens to take action. do not touch water, soil or food that may be contaminated by coming into contact with the urine (or other secretions) of infected animals.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease can seriously affect the kidneys and liver, causing meningitis, shortness of breath and bleeding. The first signs of the disease are: fever, headache, muscle aches, red eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), rash, and cough.
Category 1 hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico on September 18, causing catastrophic damage, causing the federal government to declare a state of major disaster.