CNMI issues advisories on dengue and leptospirosis

6:42 pm on 28 August 2019

Health authorities in the Northern Marianas have issued advisories against dengue and leptospirosis despite reporting a patient who contracted dengue is on the road to recovery.

Illustration of a mosquito sucking blood.

Photo: SCIEPRO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The Commonwealth Health Care Corporation says while there is no endemic source of the dengue virus in the CNMI, the public should still remain vigilant and take steps to eradicate mosquito populations and prevent bites.

Authorities say the CNMI's only confirmed case of the mosquito-borne disease is likely to have contracted it while visiting Palau.

Commonwealth Health Care says the patient has had no complications, but is still being monitored.

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Photo: 123RF

The corporation also also issued a public health advisory against leptospirosis, a bacterial disease typically transmitted via rat urine and sometimes contracted during floods.

The advisory comes as the CNMI deals with the impacts of heavy rains over the past few weeks.

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