On October 15, the Taiwanese Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that the local cases of leptospirosis on the island have reached a record high of 96 this year, with 17 reported deaths. The most recent case emerged last week, marking the first identified instance following Typhoon Sanba’s passage.
According to various Taiwanese news outlets, including CNA and China Times, the majority of the confirmed cases involve individuals over the age of 50. The highest concentrations of cases are in Kaohsiung City (72 cases), followed by Tainan City (10), Taichung City (4), and Pingtung County (4). Notably, 69 of these cases developed within a month after Typhoon Goni passed through the area.
The CDC disclosed that the latest confirmed case involves a man in his 60s from Kaohsiung City, who had a history of hypertension. He contracted the disease while cleaning up wastewater after the disaster without wearing protective gear. He began experiencing a fever in early October, which persisted for two days and was accompanied by breathing difficulties and weakness in his limbs. After seeking medical attention, he was diagnosed with leptospirosis and is currently hospitalized.
The department also noted that the month following the passage of a typhoon tends to see a spike in leptospirosis cases. In comparing the aftermath of Typhoon Sanba to Typhoon Goni, it was found that the flooding and damage from Sanba were relatively less severe, leading officials to predict that the number of cases and their distribution will not exceed those observed after Typhoon Goni.
Leptospirosis has an average incubation period of nine days, but it can range from a few hours to as long as 21 days. The disease is transmitted through contact with soil or water contaminated with the pathogen, usually via breaks in the skin.
