Banjarmasin City Government Urges Residents To Beware Of Leptospirosis During Rainy Seasons And Rob

Acting Head of the Banjarmasin City Health Office, M Ramadhan. BETWEEN/HO-Dinkes Banjarmasin

JAKARTA - The City Government of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, reminded the public to increase awareness of leptospirosis, a disease transmitted through bacteria from rat urine, especially during the rain and tidal waves that often cause inundation.

Acting Head of the Banjarmasin City Health Office, Muhammad Ramadhan, said that the condition of the easily inundated area has the potential to become a medium for the spread of bacteria that cause the disease.

"Compared to skin disease and water ticks, residents are advised to be more alert to this rat's urine. Because, I'm afraid that the flood water overflow has been polluted," he said in Banjarmasin, Sunday.

Ramadhan explained that early symptoms of leptospirosis often resemble common fever, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and redness on the skin. He asked the public to be more observant in recognizing the signs, especially if the complaints lasted more than three days.

If you don't get treatment immediately, this disease can develop into serious complications that attack vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Under certain conditions, leptospirosis can be fatal.

"If for three to five days the symptoms don't improve, immediately check yourself to the nearest health center. So that it can be handled quickly," he said.

Ramadhan added that until now there have been no cases of leptospirosis detected in Banjarmasin. However, vigilance still needs to be increased, including the preparation of health service facilities in dealing with possible new cases.

In addition to leptospirosis, skin diseases and waterbugs also need to be watched out for during the rainy season and tidal waves. But so far, case reports from various health facilities are still in the normal category because the intensity of rain and tidal waves only increased at the beginning of the season.

Meanwhile, a member of the Banjarmasin City DPRD, Ahmad Husaini, welcomed the steps taken by the Health Office to early warn the public regarding the risk of transmission of disease from mouse urine.

"We really have to quickly convey this health issue to the public, this is a form of prevention early," he said.

He hopes that the handling of diseases due to flooding will become a special concern for the government, especially in dense residential areas which are often hit by puddles both during heavy rains and high tides.

"The Health Office must often go to the field to flood-prone areas," added the member of Commission IV of the Banjarmasin City DPRD.