Jatinegara Sub-district Health Center Head, Dara Pahlarini reminded Kampung Melayu residents who live on Ciliwung River banks to be aware of leptospirosis by implementing clean and healthy lifestyle.

We continue to encourage and educate residents in flood-prone areas to always carry out clean and healthy lifestyle in order to anticipate leptospirosis

According to her, leptospirosis cases occurred in 2019 when settlements in Kampung Melayu were flooded due to overflowing Ciliwung River. It was only one case of leptospirosis. No case was found since then. But she urged peopl e to remain vigilant.

"Usually when there is flood, the flood water is potential to be mixed with rat urine. Someone with open wound can easily get leptospirosis. Therefore, we need to remind them to be aware of this disease," she conveyed, Friday (11/26).

In order to not get infected, she encouraged people to build a clean and healthy lifestyle. When crossing puddles, she asked people to always wash their feets with clean water and soap. When the flood recedes, people are also asked to clean their environment with disinfectant liquid.

She stated that Jatinegara Sub-district is potential to the spread of leptospirosis cases since it is flood-prone area, especially in RW 07 and 11 of Bidara Cina Urban Village and RW 04, 05, 07 and 08 of Kampung Melayu Urban Village.

"We continue to encourage and educate residents in flood-prone areas to always carry out clean and healthy lifestyle in order to anticipate leptospirosis," she mentioned.

For information, person who is exposed to leptospirosis will experience high fever, red eyes, cough, flu, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain in the calf. These symptoms usually appears within 2-14 days after direct contact with source of infection.

Leptospirosis infection can be healed if the patient consume antibiotics. However, if patient's physical body is weak, this infection can cause damage to kidney and liver.