A 58-year-old man is the first casualty in what appears to be an outbreak of leptospirosis in Montalban, Rizal, the provincial health officer said Wednesday.

Dr. Illuminado Victoria said that with the death of Napoleon Lardizabal, health authorities are closely monitoring the condition of 46 other patients who have shown symptoms of leptospirosis.

In her report to Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares III, Victoria said Lardizabal was first admitted at the town-based H-Ville Hospital but was later transferred to the Quirino Labor Memorial Hospital in Quezon City where he later died.

She said that of the 46 suspected cases of leptospirosis, 10 have been admitted and were subjected to further laboratory confirmations. Among victims suspected of having leptospirosis were children aged 12-16 years old.

Acting Montalban Mayor Jonas Cruz said, “There is really an urgent need for help from the provincial government since the local government is running out of funds to defray the cost of what is left by tropical storm Ondoy.”

Acting on Cruz’ request, Ynares dispatched a team of medical professionals to take care of the patients. The provincial chief executive, himself a doctor, also ordered the release of medicines for those believed to have leptospirosis.

The governor also alerted all other province-based hospitals in assisting patients showing symptoms of leptospirosis.

To date, several barangays in Montalban remain under water, making local folk vulnerable to diseases.

“It is very important that we keep our environment clean because rodents, from where the leptospirosis virus comes from, actually stay in places with poor sanitation,” Victoria said.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection affecting humans. The infection is commonly transmitted to humans by allowing water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or with the mucous membranes.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, conjunctivitis (red eyes), diarrhea, vomiting, and kidney or liver problems (which may include jaundice), anemia and, sometimes, rash. Symptoms may last from a few days to several weeks. Although deaths have occurred, they are rare. In some persons, the infection can be mild and without obvious symptoms.

The provincial health chief likewise issued an advisory to avoid leptospirosis.

“Do not swim or wade in freshwater streams, ponds or lakes when you have open cuts or sores. Do not drink stream, pond or lake water without boiling or chemically treating it. Control rats and mice in areas around the home and work sites. Wear gloves when disposing of dead animals and when gutting livestock or game animals. Drain areas that have still, standing water,” Victoria said.