Minstry of Health takes steps to eliminate leptospirosis

Minister of Health Julius Timothy

The Ministry of Health says it is now developing protocols, which include the conducting of all tests, in order to eliminate the outbreak of leptospirosis on the island.

Since the announcement of the outbreak of this disease there have been more than a dozen reported cases and two confirmed deaths.

Authorities are still awaiting results of two more suspected deaths of the disease.

“The disease has been with us for quite a while but in recent times the frequency of the cases has indicated that there is an outbreak. Most people get healed but if it is not treated in time they can die. We are now developing protocols so whenever people go to the causality with symptoms, we do the entire test to ensure that we eliminate the disease” Minister of Health, Julius Timothy said.

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11 Comments

  1. Dominican Abroad
    May 26, 2011

    I hear all kinds of suggestions about dealing with the Leptospirosis situation. Leptospirosis has been around for quite a while but only scant attention has been given to a disease which has a very high fatality rate. The Minister needs to go much farther than establishing protocols. These protocols only help in identifying and managing presons who have already become sick, they will not reduce or prevent the disease.

    First of all people need to know that the diseaase is cauded by rodents and more particularly the organism is commonly found in the urine of rats and mice. People get the disease by eating food contaminated with the urine of rodents, or by ingesting water contaminated with the urine or the organism may enter through breaks in the skin while bathing in water contaminated with the urine.

    Some talk about asking farmers to keep their garden clothes away from their family if possible wash them immediately after coming from the garden,wash their hands with disinfectant- What does that have to do with contracting Leptospirosis?

    In order to get control of the disease, three things are very important:

    1) Public Education-
    People need to be told about the disease; its causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment etc.

    2) Food Hygiene and Safety
    Tips- Aviod eating anyhing that has been tampered by rats and mice. -Discard all rodent damaged foods. -Thoroughly cook all foods so that bacteria can be destroyed. Canned and bottled drinks that have been in dry storage must be washed before being used. One person died of Leptospirosis in the US and it was traced back to a can of Soda that the individual drank from without washing the can. I have since developed the practice of washing all canned items before opening them. As much as possible wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

    3) Rodent Control.
    Rats and mice populations must be controlled or eliminated. That can be achieved by proper garbage disposal and by the application of rodenticide. Government need to develop a rodent control program that is intensive and continuous; no start-stop or ad-hoc thing because rat populations increase rapidly. There must be some organised clean-ups of communities to remove all the harbourage that rats find refuge in.

    If such measures are taken, the Leptospirosis situation can be brought under control in Dominica

  2. DA gurl
    May 26, 2011

    We need to keep our environment clean. That is the only permanent way to control the rat population. My sympathies to the families of those who died.

  3. BELLE BEEF
    May 25, 2011

    BLEACH MY PEOPLE BLEACH THE USE WILL SURELY DO THE TRICK RATS HATE BLEACH

  4. River Street
    May 25, 2011

    Blaming the minister does not address the problem. Let’s be realistic education is the way to go. Unions and employers should implement “a right to know” program. By introducing this programs workers and others who engage in various activities are taught how to handle and deal with various chemicals,,hazardous material, and contaminants etc. It all has to do with education. Prevention is indeed better than cure. Yes there has to be certain protocol set by the ministry of health and the medical community however, let’s learn from this. To the families affected our prays and condolence.

  5. booommmmmmm
    May 25, 2011

    now allu find to do that……….after ppl lose there lif…..o plz…..all should have known wat to do in the first place

  6. Anonymous
    May 25, 2011

    Prevention is better than cure.

    DRUM it into our heads that we MUST stop the dirty habit of disposing rubbish anywhere we feel fit. We must keep our yards tidy (cut grass/bushes), get rid of unwanted fridges/cookers etc. Only put out rubbish on actual days of collection. Make sure we bag (and tie) our rubbish.

    DEMAND from city council/village council that the sidewalks and gutters are cleaned on a regular basis. That bins are available for us to dispose of rubbish.

    There are so many cost free things WE can do to help ourselves. Rodents are not class conscious, rich or poor, mansion or modest dwelling, all they think about is where they can get their next feed.

  7. Bean
    May 25, 2011

    How about cleaning up Roseau ? It’s filthy.
    How about fining people on the spot for littering and urinating in public ?
    A protocol isn’t going to get rid of the rats, the dirt and the garbage. It’s evasive and ignoring the real issues of proper sanitation and changing people’s attitudes to really ‘keeping Dominica clean and green’ (saying it isn’t the same as doing it).

  8. Optimist
    May 25, 2011

    Mr. Minister we really need to do much more than this. It would appear in the interest of not creating a scare we are treating this as though it was a minor issue. What if it affects a school and several children get caught in this.. Shouldn’t we be focusing on a massive information campaign in communities, the churches, the media houses(tv and radio) and in our schools where all our children are five days a week. Do we have to wait for a catastrophe to treat this as an emergency? I have not heard any serious talk about a rodent control programme. Is it that the Minister feels that this is not necessary? I am really puzzled by the weal response. Let us approach this in a more serious and urgent manner.

  9. get down from your high horse
    May 25, 2011

    this cannot be stopped at all.stop fooling the people .respect them because they are the ones who votes to put people like you in power….leptospirosis is caused by rats or rather rodents…make sure that rubbish is stored in a well covered bin …or it should be burned…every where should be kept tidy as most as possible because this will prevent the rodents from breeding quickly as they normally would if they are well fed…remember rats adapts themselves to all situations eg. weather…ask farmers to keep their garden clothes away from their family if possible wash them immediately after coming from the garden,wash their hands with disinfectant ect…good hygiene …protect all foods and wash them before eating them hygiene hygiene hygiene please

  10. patriot Dominican
    May 25, 2011

    Mr. Minister with all due respect to you sir, get your facts straight about the number of deaths or is the Ministry afraid to scare the population. Is is two or maybe five or six?

    You guys are taking this ting for big joke. It is more than time to step up an island wide campaign.
    1. In the schools
    2. At. the Roseau market with some vendors selling alleged pricked/beaten foods by God knows what
    (for example, sweet potato, carrots, cucumbers, mangoes, yams to name a few). My people forget about the wajma.

    3. Some sort of PA system around the island, must be commenced immediately like those used in fogging for dengue.

    These are not measures to scare the public by any means, but to sensitize persons to the danger of the disease and how quick it can kill you if not DIAGNOSED OR TREATED WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

    PLEASE MR. MINISTER I BEG YOU AND YOUR AND YOUR MINISTRY TO STEP UN THE CAMPAIGN TO AVOID MORE CARELESS DEATHS.

  11. worried dominican
    May 25, 2011

    timothy is a waste of time,this should have been handled better

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