Cats needed to fight leptospirosis in Xieng Khuang More cats are required to reduce the incidence of leptospirosis during the wet season, according to officials from the Xieng Khuang province Public Health Department.
There have been 68 cases of leptospirosis recorded so far this wet season. Last year, there were 168 people affected by the disease.
The department's Surveillance Division Head, Ms Somsanit Ouanthavong, said mice were the main carriers of the disease.
“If the mouse population reduces, leptospirosis also declines,” she said.
Most cases of leptospirosis occurred in the Kham district, where bushes that were once the habitat of mice were burned to grow sweet corn.
When the bushes were destroyed the mice moved into the houses of people living along the river.
Humans are at risk of contracting the disease if they drink water that has been infected by mouse urine.
“We don't encourage the public to use chemicals for mouse eradication, because it can have a bad effect on people's health,” Ms Somsanit said.
He said it was better if people in affected area raised more cats to hunt mice.
“This is a healthy and economic method,” she said.
“Even though nobody has died yet, we have to take special precautions to reduce illness from leptospirosis as much as possible,” she said.
Health information on leptospirosis has been disseminated to all eight district hospitals in the province.
Leptospirosis is a seasonal disease and occurs in humid areas. People working in these locations, farmers in particular, should wear boots and gloves to avoid contact with bacteria while they are working in rice fields.
People should avoid contact with water in risky areas, especially if they have any cuts or open s ores.
“They should clean their body with soap after they have finished working in the rice fields,” Ms Somsanit said.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus leptospira, that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
In humans, leptospirosis causes a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea or rashes.
According to Xinhua News Agency , Thailand 's Public Health Ministry reported more than 500 people had been infected by the virus and 15 killed by an outbreak in the country earlier this month.
By XAYXANA LEUKAI
(Latest Update July 25, 2008)
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