Bengkulu Provincial Government Urges Residents To Beware Of Leptospirosis Outbreak During Rainy Season

JAKARTA - Entering the rainy season, the risk of transmission of leptospirosis or known as rat urinary is increasing sharply in various regions. This disease is caused by Leptospira bacteria that generally spread through water or soil that has been contaminated with animal urine, especially mice.

Floods and puddles increase the possibility of people being exposed to these bacteria, especially in less hygienic environments. In response to this, the Bengkulu Provincial Government appealed to the entire community to increase awareness of the spread of leptospirosis.

This appeal was conveyed considering the high rainfall that has started in recent times in the region.

"Houses that are often flooded are usually where rats come out of their nests, and they pollute water around settlements. The water can be accidentally consumed or exposed to the human body," explained the Head of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Ruslan, in Bengkulu City, as quoted by ANTARA.

Although until now there have been no reports of leptospirosis cases in Bengkulu, the Health Office still asks the public to always be careful. Prevention needs to be done from an early age so that there is no spread of disease that can cause serious complications, even death.

The public is advised to maintain environmental cleanliness, re-implement health protocols, and live a healthy lifestyle. Other prevention efforts include ensuring that there is no stagnant water around the house, closing water storage areas, and throwing away foods that have been open for a long time.

Symptoms of leptospirosis that must be watched out for include high fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases can cause bleeding to organ failure. If you experience these symptoms, residents are asked to immediately visit the nearest health facility for examination and treatment.

In addition to leptospirosis, the Bengkulu City Government also reminded the public of the threat of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which increases during the rainy season. This disease is caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that reproduces in puddles of water.

From data from the Bengkulu City Health Office, 148 dengue cases occurred from January to early June 2025, four of which resulted in deaths. These cases are spread across various city areas.

"Looking at this situation, we invite the public to actively maintain environmental cleanliness. Gotong royong cleans the ditch, the yard, and eliminating puddles must be a common routine," said a representative of the Bengkulu City Health Office.

Efforts to prevent these two diseases, leptospirosis and dengue fever, really depend on public awareness of cleanliness. If all elements of society unite to protect the environment, the risk of an outbreak can be significantly reduced.