‘Mystery’ disease in Zamboanga del Norte identified as leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines—Health officials have finally identified what was earlier thought to be a mysterious disease that killed at least four people in a fishing village in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte over the last few months.

In a press conference Friday, Health Secretary Enrique Ona announced that it was a “variant of leptospirosis,” which had symptoms different from those normally associated with the disease.

Most of the patients stricken ill by the supposed “mysterious disease” showed symptoms of coughing, fever, blurring of vision, headache, stomach pains and mild paralysis of the lower extremities.

The usual symptoms of leptospirosis, commonly transmitted to humans from water contaminated by animal urine, include fever, chills and intense headache.

In extreme cases, complications like meningitis, renal failure and respiratory distress may arise and lead to death, according to the Department of Health.

The Research Institute for Topical Medicine on Friday confirmed that at least 10 blood samples taken from the patients afflicted by the so-called mystery disease were positive for leptospirosis, said Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag, also head of the National Epidemiology Center.

“So it’s not a mystery anymore,” Tayag told reporters after receiving a call from the RITM on Friday.

Preliminary reports reaching the DOH showed that the fishing village had experienced regular rains over the past few months, which could have possibly caused the spread of leptospirosis in the area, said Tayag.

“There are also many animals, including rats, in the area, which explains why there were residents infected by leptospirosis,” added the health official.