Barbados has recorded 41 cases and three deaths related to leptospirosis for the year, which makes it the deadliest year for the potentially fatal disease since 1999.
This was revealed by Dr Karen Springer, Senior Medical Officer of Health (North), during a press briefing on the status of leptospirosis at the Ministry of Health’s Frank Walcott building today.
Springer pointed out that although the three reported deaths were ‘in keeping with what we would expect,’ the 41 cases were not, saying that ‘they had exceeded what we would have normally expected.’
She said the majority of people who were infected with the disease were between the ages of 20-60, and that 84 per cent of them were males.
Springer said those who worked in the agricultural industry, pet shop workers, meat handlers and military personnel were also at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joy St.John who was also at the briefing, noted that the increased amount of cases was due to the high amount of rain which had fallen for the year, coupled with the fact that there had hardly been a dry season. (RB)
