Leptospirosis - Ukraine, Internally Displaced Persons

[alert]

Published Date: 2022-04-06 12:48:45 EDT
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis - Ukraine: (KM) IDPs, RFI
Archive Number: 20220406.8702444

LEPTOSPIROSIS - UKRAINE: (KHMELNYTSKYI) INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Tue 5 Apr 2022 15:58 EEST
Source: TCN, Associated Press (AP) report [in Russian, machine-trans., edited]
https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/v-hmelnic...v-2029468.html


Since the beginning of 2022, 5 cases of leptospirosis have been detected in the Khmelnytskyi region: 2 of them among migrants.

This was reported by Public News with reference to the infectious disease doctor of the Khmelnytskyi City Infectious Diseases Hospital Elena Markevich. According to the doctor, there are currently 3 patients diagnosed with leptospirosis in the medical facility; 2 cases were recorded among internally displaced persons.

"The condition is moderate. Some will recover. One patient was discharged recently. There was also a case where the patient had both leptospirosis and a coronavirus infection. In 2021, during this 3-month period [January, February, and March 2021], there was one case in the city of Khmelnytskyi, and up to 3 cases in the region. Infectious diseases proceed in waves: one year there are fewer of them, one year there are more of them," says the infectious diseases specialist.

According to the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health, leptospirosis is a dangerous zoonotic (common to animals and humans) infectious disease. Symptoms range from mild (headaches, fever, muscle aches, red eyes, diarrhea, rash) to serious (kidney, liver, meningitis) and even fatal (when seeking care and treatment are delayed).

Sources of causative agents of leptospirosis are infected animals - mainly small mammals (murine and waterfowl [?] rodents). The disease is not transmitted from person to person.

--
communicated by:
ProMED rapporteur Mahmoud Orabi

[For general information about leptospirosis see the following report, from earlier today [6 Apr 2022]: ProMED. Leptospirosis - Brazil: (RJ) flooding, alert 20220406.8702441.

The news report above says that 5 people in Khmelnytskyi region have been diagnosed with leptospirosis so far this year (2022), 2 of whom were internally displaced, I presume likely as a result of the war in Ukraine. We are not given further details that would put these people at increased risk for leptospirosis. More information would be appreciated from knowledgeable sources.

Khmelnytskyi is a city (estimated population 274 582 in 2021) in western Ukraine, the administrative center for Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province) and Khmelnytskyi Raion (district) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmelnytskyi,_Ukraine). A map showing the location of the city of Khmelnytskyi can be found at https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kh...Ukraine,+29000. - Mod.ML

 

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Translation Google

Leptospirosis: what is the danger and how to prevent the disease

April 05, 2022, 4:40 p.m.

In the Khmelnytsky region in 2021, 4 people fell ill with leptospirosis, fortunately, without fatal consequences. During the epidemiological investigation of cases of the disease it was established that the cause of infection of 2 citizens could be rodents in households, in 2 others - fishing and fish farming near water bodies. In 3 months of 2022, as of March 31, 3 cases of leptospirosis have been recorded, all of them among internally displaced persons. Leptospirosis is an acute infectious disease that can be transmitted from animal to human. The source of infection for humans are rodents, domestic and wild animals, fur animals, dogs. In cities, rats are the main carriers of the infection.

Both rural and urban residents can get sick. However, given the current situation in the country, issues of prevention of this dangerous disease are equally relevant for the entire population of Khmelnytsky region. In the initial stages, the disease is similar in symptoms to acute respiratory disease. There is a fever (fever up to 39 o C and above), general weakness, severe headache, nausea. Characteristic of leptospirosis are muscle pain, there may also be redness and swelling of the skin, redness of the eyes. Usually, symptoms appear 7-14 days after infection (this period can be from 1 to 20 days). From the moment of symptoms the account "goes for hours". Therefore, the sooner you start professional treatment, the higher the chances of recovery. The "lion's share" of successful treatment of leptospirosis is timely diagnosis. Because pathogens and their toxins cause pathological changes in the kidneys, lesions of the liver (often with jaundice) and nervous system.

Special laboratory tests help to confirm the diagnosis. If a person has been in conditions under which he could be infected, but there are no clinical manifestations yet, he can undergo appropriate examinations. They are carried out by the laboratory of especially dangerous infections of the Khmelnytsky Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. To protect yourself and your family from leptospirosis - avoid contact with rodents, rats, wild and domestic animals, which can be a major source of infection. Owners or authorized persons and structures must regularly treat residential, commercial and ancillary premises with appropriate rodenticides. Observance of the rules of personal hygiene also plays an extremely important role, especially after being in a shelter or bomb shelter, controlling the consumption of food in such places.

It is worth remembering: in order not to get leptospirosis, you need to use only well-organized sources of water supply, and food and water must be reliably protected from the products of mice and rats.

Vitaliy Ovcharuk, head of the department epidemiological surveillance of particularly dangerous infections Khmelnytsky Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health Of Ukraine ”

https://yampilsr.gov.ua/news/1649166106/

 

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