Most leptospirosis cases recorded so far this month are from the rural areas of the Central Division.

Ministry of Health’s Head of Health Protection, Dr. Aalisha Sahukhan says with the increasing cases recorded in the Division, medical officers are closely collaborating with households on the ground.

“They will actually go down to the household level, visit households and inspect these households then give advice to families that live there about preventative measures including keeping the household clean, keeping the household free of animals to minimize the spread of this disease within the communities itself.”

Dr. Sahukhan says most cases were recorded in the rural districts.

“We are seeing cases from all over the Central Division, we have noted cases from Naitasiri, Rewa, as well as Serua Namosi and we are seeing cases from urban areas as well as some of the rural areas as well.”

Dr. Sahukhan says they will undertake a refresher training on the guidelines related to leptospirosis treatment today as part of their monitoring strategy to help address the issue.

The Health Ministry is urging communities in the Central Division to take precautionary measures and ensure they do not come into contact with the urine of infected animals this rainy season.

People who work with animals (e.g. farmers) are at higher risk of getting this disease, however, the current outbreak is also affecting people who do non-animal related work.

Meanwhile, a total of 69 leptospirosis cases have been recorded to date, out of which 18 were admitted and four were unlucky and died due to the seriousness of the disease.