Blood and urine tests conducted on people, rats<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the public's concern over the possibility of
\npostflood diseases, most notably the dreaded leptospirosis
\noutbreak throughout the capital, the Jakarta administration began
\nimplementing a series of blood and urine tests on people and rats
\nin high risk locations.<\/p>\n
The testing is the administration's campaign to eradicate rats
\nin certain neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
Section head of epidemiology surveillance at the City Health
\nAgency, Paripurna H.S., said on Sunday that the urine and blood
\ntests had taken place in 13 locations where the disease, which
\nhad killed nine people recently, was found.<\/p>\n
\"People living in within a 200-meter radius from the locations
\nwhere the disease was found are our main target. We have to check
\nif they have been infected by the bacterium or not,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As of Sunday, 29 people had been found in Jakarta to be
\ninfected with the slender aerobic spirochete which can be
\nprimarily found in pigs, dogs and rats and is transferred quite
\neasily during floods. Depending on the type of disease the
\nsymptoms may include high fever, vomiting, headache or irritated
\neyes. The average incubation period of the parasite is 10 days
\nonce it enters a host.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso had announced earlier that the disease
\nsufferers would receive free medical treatment.<\/p>\n
The need for conducting blood and urine tests on the rats is
\nto determine if they are indeed responsible for the outbreak.<\/p>\n
After the administration's declaration of war many people
\nbegan to catch rats using rattraps provided to each house in
\nthree community units of Kampung Bali subdistrict in Central
\nJakarta on Saturday evening before the agency began conducting
\nthe tests on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The agency has been concentrating the tests in Central Jakarta
\n-- covering Palmerah, Petamburan and Bendungan Hilir subdistricts
\n-- and West Jakarta -- in Kapuk, Kedaung Kaliangke, Kota Bambu,
\nJati Pulo and Cengkareng Barat subdistricts -- where most of the
\ncases of the disease were found.<\/p>\n
The blood and urine samples will later be taken to a
\nlaboratory in Bogor, West Java, for examination.<\/p>\n
Despite the implementation of the tests, doctors in public
\nhealth centers have been urged to stay alert for people with
\nsymptoms of high fever, vomiting, headaches or bloodshot eyes.<\/p>\n
\"Should there be people with such complaints, the doctors must
\nsuspect that they are infected by leptospirosis and need early
\nhelp,\" said Paripurna, adding that patients will be given
\nantibiotics.<\/p>\n
The agency will also continue its supervision in prone areas
\nand will disseminate appropriate information to the public about
\nthe diseases and the mechanism of how it infects the people.<\/p>\n
Paripurna called on the people to keep their houses clean. He
\nalso urged everyone, especially those who do not use modern
\nutensils, to stay hygienic by thoroughly washing their hands
\nbefore eating or preparing food.<\/p>\n
\"The leptospire bacteria can stay alive for weeks in standing
\nwater or mud even after its host has died. Therefore, people
\nworking in such places must be careful as the bacteria can enter
\nthe body through mucous membranes or open wounds,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Paripurna said there were 170 species of leptospire bacteria
\neach of which has different symptoms.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blood-and-urine-tests-conducted-on-people-rats-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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