4 Flood Victims In Gorongtalo Died As A Result Of Being Exposed To Veterinary Water Bacteria

Photos of the aerials of houses that were flooded in Tilanggo, Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo, Friday (12/7/2024). ANTARA/Adiwinata Solihin

GORONTALO - At least four residents affected by flooding in the city and Gorontalo district died due to suffering from leptospirosis or bacterial diseases that spread through the urine of infected animals.

"After we sent the results of the laboratory examination, indeed one person was positive for leptospirosis and the other three symptoms showed leptospirosis," said Head of the Gorontalo Province Health Service (Dinkes) Anang Otoluwa, in Gorontalo, Friday, August 9, as reported by Antara.

According to Anang, the four victims were suspected of being exposed to leptospirosis while in flood water mixed with rat urinary.

One victim was positive, he said, based on laboratory results and three other blood samples could not be taken properly or damaged, so they were not examined but the symptoms were the same.

"It could be because of the urine of mice, but it could also be from other animals," said Anang.

He explained, about five days after the flood in July 2024, his party together with the laboratory hall from Manado examined the rats around the flood location, namely in Gorontalo City and Gorontalo Regency.

"So, about 16 rats. At that time, the kidneys were taken to determine whether the leptospirosis was in the kidneys of the rats," he said.

There is something interesting, said Anang, it turns out that there is one type that is examined in Surabaya, the bacteria are not from rats but dogs.

"So this is what we have to be aware of, besides the rats it turns out to be dogs, if for example the dog's saliva is mixed with water and then it gets injured, then it will go straight into the blood," said Anang.