THE EDITOR, Sir:
JAMAICA OVER the past few months has experienced excessive flooding which has again highlighted the danger of diseases like leptospirosis. In 1995, after widespread flooding in Nicaragua, a leptospirosis epidemic claimed 13 lives and made more than 2,000 others sick. Leptospirosis is a serious illness that can affect many parts of the body; it is mostly prevalent in tropical countries with much rainfall. Infected rodents and other wild and domestic animals pass the bacteria in their urine. The bacteria can live for a long time in fresh water, damp soil, vegetation, and mud. This is exactly why flooding after heavy rainfall helps to spread the bacteria in the environment.
TROPICAL DISEASES SYMPTOMS
Most infected persons experience mild to moderate illness common to many other tropical diseases. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, nausea and vomiting, eye inflammation, and muscle aches. In more severe cases, the illness can result in liver damage and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whitening of the eye), kidney failure, and internal bleeding. Leptospirosis is also a problem in inner cities that are infested with rats.
In Papine and New Kingston, on our way from work or school, we can observe huge rats lingering around searching for food. There is a rubbish pile at the side of the ugly park in Papine that needs to be moved to a more appropriate location, the park is frankly infested with scores of huge rats.
I am, etc.,
KENTON BAILEY
Kenton_bailey@hotmail.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
