A Belize City man died after testing positive for Leptospirosis - and some public health concerns have been raised because of it. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of rats and other infected animals. Humans get it mostly by exposure to contaminated water, or when drinking water is contaminated - which often occurs during floods.
That's what Michael Lewis was diagnosed with the day before he died. Lewis, who worked for years as a traffic warden - died on New Year's Day after he was ill for almost two weeks. Lewis lived alone in the city on Castle Street in this wooden shed in a clean, high yard - he had no kitchen, stove or refrigerator in his shed.
His neighbors who were like family to him told us that he was first diagnosed on December 21st. by a private doctor with a respiratory type illness, and then on Boxing Day, the 26th. they had to rush him to the hospital when he appeared gravely ill. Doctors came upon a few ailments with his liver and lungs, but they couldn't figure out exactly what was making him deathly ill. On New Year's Eve, a test at a private lab confirmed that he had Leptospirosis - and on New Year's Day, the 47 year old died.
What's caused the concern is the report that four persons died at the KHMH from Leptospirosis in December. Today we reached the KHMH for comment and they said that is only a rumour and it didn't happen.
The Public Health Department has been to Castle Street to investigate the area - which appeared to us to be very well kept.
The Ministry of Health says it is investigating, but says that at this time there is no reason to suspect an outbreak of leptospirosis.
But 7News has confirmed that what is causing some health authorities some serious concern tonight is a reported death linked to one of the influenza viruses. A major meeting is planned to discuss it tomorrow, and we'll have more on that in our next newscast.
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