Flood fever infecting Jakartans<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Laying helplessly in a third-class ward for more than a week at
\nTarakan hospital in West Jakarta, Usman, 42, has been struggling
\nwith a serious illness, one he still knows nothing about.<\/p>\n
\"The doctor took me off the intravenous (IV) drip. I hope I
\ncan go home soon,\" said the employee of an auto repair shop in
\nSunter, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Usman is one of several patients recently hospitalized in
\nJakarta for leptospirosis, a little known contagious disease
\ncaused by Leptospira interrogans, a bacterium transmitted through
\nthe urine of rats and domestic animals.<\/p>\n
Infected people display various symptoms, including a
\nprolonged fever, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, eye inflammation
\nand in more severe cases liver damage and jaundice.<\/p>\n
\"I don't understand this disease. All I know is that I threw
\nup blood over and over again, had severe diarrhea with blood. My
\nsight faded and my ears hurt and I heard a prolonged, very loud
\nringing sound. Not to mention the pain I felt from head to toe,\"
\nsaid Usman.<\/p>\n
At first Usman, who lives along a densely populated lane in a
\nsqualid neighborhood in Gelora, Central Jakarta, thought that the
\ncause of his illness was a lack of nutrients and too much work.
\nHe went to two local clinics, both of which gave him drugs to
\ntreat the vomiting and diarrhea. Another doctor later asked him
\nto have his blood checked at a hospital. He did so and was
\nimmediately hospitalized.<\/p>\n
Leptospirosis, also called \"flood fever\", is often
\nmisdiagnosed due to the similarity of its symptoms, in early
\nstages, with the common flu.<\/p>\n
The number of reported cases over the last year in the capital
\nstands at 44, four of which have been fatal.<\/p>\n
\"We have been conducting public awareness campaigns on how to
\nprevent endemic diseases, such as dengue fever and leptospirosis,
\nsince the second week of December by handing out calendars and
\nbrochures across the city,\" Evi Zelfino, spokesperson of the
\nJakarta health agency, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Public events have been held every Friday in various public
\nplaces, such as Thamrin, the National Monument, Senen and
\nHarmoni, all in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In coordination with hospitals, the agency is putting up
\nposters to increase awareness in hospital emergency rooms.<\/p>\n
\"However, the language used in the poster is highly technical
\nin nature ... people often have to ask hospital staff to explain
\nit,\" said Cici, a hospital employee.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/flood-fever-infecting-jakartans-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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