Epidemiologist Of The Ministry Of Health Maps Risk Factors For The Transmission Of Leptospirosis In Manokwari

Ministry of Health officers dissect mice to examine the possibility of mice being infected with bacteria that cause leptospirosis/ANTARA

PAPUA - Epidemiologist from the Ministry of Health has recorded the density of rat populations in the residential area of Manokwari Regency, West Papua Province, to map out risk factors for leptospirosis transmission, a disease caused by bacteria that can spread through mouse urine. According to the Intermediate Expert Epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, Yahiddin Selian, the density of the rat population in the Manokwari Regency residential area is up to 30 percent based on the results of the surveillance center from October 31 to November 2, 2022. "In that period, we installed 150 rat traps in three urban villages in Manokwari and as a result, 48 rat traps had contents," said Yahiddin in Manokwari, Antara, Wednesday, November 2. According to him, the number of rat population densities in the Manokwari Regency area far exceeds the quality standard of only one percent. Mapping the risk factor for leptospirosis transmission is part of efforts to prevent disease transmission. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira bacteria, which can be transmitted through mouse urine. Diseases characterized by symptoms such as sudden fever, headache, weakness, red eyes, yellowish color on the skin, and calf muscle aches include flood comorbidities. Yahiddin said that if it enters the human body, bacteria that cause leptospirosis can damage the kidneys. The death rate from the disease, according to him, is up to 20 percent. "Last week in Semarang, Central Java, we recorded that there were six cases of death due to leptospirosis, because they received treatment late," he said. Transmission of leptospirosis-causing bacteria can be prevented by wearing gloves and boots when cleaning a house or ditch and washing hands using soap and running water after completing activities. People who experience similar symptoms of leptospirosis are advised to immediately go to health care facilities so they can get treatment as early as possible from health workers.