Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Environmental contamination is the major source of human leptospirosis. Therefore, it is important to identify environmental source for public health actions to lower leptospirosis outbreak burden. The aim of this paper is to share experienced in detecting source of infection for Leptospirosis outbreak recently occurred in Lembah Pantai Health Office (LPHO) operational area. METHODS: Following the establishment of leptospirosis outbreak, LPHO has initiated investigation and control activities. Based on the history of the cases and epidemiological study, environmental sampling of the suspected contaminated freshwater and watered soil were sent to MKAK for Lepto pathogen. RESULTS: One Leptospirosis outbreak occurred in one of institutional on the 1st until 14th March 2019. A total of 73 cases have fulfilled the definition criteria for Leptospirosis among 599 people who have history of exposure to the risky area. Out of 73 cases, only 24 cases were having positive serology in which amongst them a total of 15 cases having positive PCR test. Epidemiological investigation revealed propagated source of infection. This was further support by environmental investigation showing two high risk places of rodent infestation, that were water recreational area and the hostel where the patients lived. Soil sample from the institutional was positive for Lepto. CONCLUSION: Based on LPHO experienced, environmental investigation is an important tool to control Leptospirosis outbreak. By identifying the positive environment, resources can be targeted and concerted to the specific area to lessen the outbreak duration as well as Leptospirosis burden.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-268,
title = {Seeking the Environmental Source of Leptospirosis; Lembah Pantai District Health Office Experienced},
author = {Rozanim Kamarudin and Nur Fadhilah Zubair and Fitri Syafiqah Abdullah},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Environmental contamination is the major source of human leptospirosis. Therefore, it is important to identify environmental source for public health actions to lower leptospirosis outbreak burden. The aim of this paper is to share experienced in detecting source of infection for Leptospirosis outbreak recently occurred in Lembah Pantai Health Office (LPHO) operational area. METHODS: Following the establishment of leptospirosis outbreak, LPHO has initiated investigation and control activities. Based on the history of the cases and epidemiological study, environmental sampling of the suspected contaminated freshwater and watered soil were sent to MKAK for Lepto pathogen. RESULTS: One Leptospirosis outbreak occurred in one of institutional on the 1st until 14th March 2019. A total of 73 cases have fulfilled the definition criteria for Leptospirosis among 599 people who have history of exposure to the risky area. Out of 73 cases, only 24 cases were having positive serology in which amongst them a total of 15 cases having positive PCR test. Epidemiological investigation revealed propagated source of infection. This was further support by environmental investigation showing two high risk places of rodent infestation, that were water recreational area and the hostel where the patients lived. Soil sample from the institutional was positive for Lepto. CONCLUSION: Based on LPHO experienced, environmental investigation is an important tool to control Leptospirosis outbreak. By identifying the positive environment, resources can be targeted and concerted to the specific area to lessen the outbreak duration as well as Leptospirosis burden.},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Pejabat Kesihatan Lembah Pantai, Jabatan Kesihatan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, Jalan Cenderasari, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia},
keywords = {contaminated soil, contaminated water, environmental source, Leptospirosis},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}