Detained immigrant dies of leptospirosis

An inmate of the Juru Detention Camp died of leptospirosis at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital while 26 others from the camp have been warded at Bukit Mertajam Hospital and Seberang Jaya Hospital for the disease.

The symptoms he suffered include pedal odema, fever, decreased urine output, constipation and lethargy.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Humans can only become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing urine from infected animals. The disease cannot spread from person to person.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea or a rash. If left untreated, the patient can develop kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory distress.