Following the death of two persons and the hospitalisation of 25 other residents of Lagos State over an outbreak of cholera in three local government areas of the state, millions of Nigerians risk contacting leptospirosis.
This is due to the incessant rainfall the country is experiencing at the moment, which has caused several states to be flooded, thereby contaminating the boreholes and water systems in many households.
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus leptospira. Leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s syndrome, is a bacterial infection transmitted when urine and faeces of infected animals such as rodents, contaminate the soil, water and vegetation.
Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, that is the inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord, liver failure, respiratory distress and even death.
An American based medical expert, Dr. Oluwadamilare Ajayi, said floods are the most common hazard that have led to extensive morbidity and mortality in many areas in which its impact on the human community is related directly to the location and topography of the area, as well as human demographics and characteristics of the environment.
Ajayi noted, however, that the health impacts of flood are many, but a major impact is leptospirosis, which has the symptoms of cold such as muscle ache, fatigue, headache and loss of appetite.
He said that he people at a high risk of this disease include children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions.
Ajayi added that in order to prevent this kind of water borne disease, people should use only potable water, saying sanitation is critical in reducing the impact of leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases.
”Chlorination of water supply is a must during this critical period,” he stated.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Mike Ogirima, noted that a person may contract leptospirosis by ingesting contaminated food or water and when broken skin and open wounds, or when eyes, nose, sinuses and mouth come in contact with contaminated water, usually flood water or soil.
The incubation period of the bacteria is 7 to 10 days.
“When you have a high fever, muscle pain, discolouration, dark-coloured urine, light stools, low urine output, severe calf-muscle pain and reddish eyes, then you must go for screening so as to detect the illness early because it can also get severe and cause liver/brain involvement or kidney failure,” he said.
Ogirima noted that in order to prevent contracting the illness , it is essential for people to avoid swimming or wading in flood water, adding that whenever it became imperative to do so, boots and gloves should be worn.
“Many household should drain every potentially contaminated water and try to control rodents in their household by using rat traps or rat poison. In short, they should maintain cleanliness in the house,” the NMA president said.
