Via InterAksyon.com: DOH verifies reported deaths due to tetanus, leptospirosis in Yolanda-hit areas.
The Department of Health (DOH) is verifying reported number of deaths due to tetanus and leptospirosis in typhoon-affected areas, although no precise figure has yet been released.
Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said via Twitter on Friday that a DOH team is currently "in a management of body shifts to outbreak detection and response."
Tayag said that the shift to outbreak detection and response means that the DOH will disengage in management of bodies, which is now with the National Bureau of Investigation and local government units.
At present, Tayag said that two leptospirosis deaths have been verified: A 22-year-old male from Tacloban City and a 58-year-old male from Palo, Leyte.
As for tetanus cases, those verified were all males whose ages ranged from 19 to 60 years, Tayag said. "One came from Tolosa, Leyte and the rest from Tacloban. All of them are alive," he added.
The risk of dying from tetanus, according to Tayag, increases if symptoms appear within the week after the injury.
“Tetanus symptoms appear as early as three days after the injury,” he said. “Symptoms include lock jaw, difficulty in swallowing and seizures.”
He advised survivors to make sure that all wounds sustained in typhoon "Yolanda" should be considered tetanus-prone.
“All patients should get both anti-tetanus serum and tetanus toxoid,” Tayag said.
