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Death Toll From “Lepto” In Guyana Rises
by Hardbeatnews
Posted: Feb 9, 2005 11:56 UTC
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana - The death toll in Guyana has now climbed to 16, according to the country’s Ministry of Health, with several deaths being blamed on the water borne disease, leptospirosis, or “lepto,” as it’s now being referred to by Guyanese.
A Kaieteur News reporter is suspected to be one of the latest victims along with Thomas Sandiford, Chairman of the Plaisance/ Industry Neighborhood District Council. Relatives are now awaiting post-mortem reports for the cause of death, though both exhibited symptoms of the disease, such as fever and vomiting.
Thirty-one year-old Joseph Thomas, who apparently succumbed to the disease on Monday night, was also a calypsonian who won the calypso monarchy some years ago with the hit song “ Pagalee Man.”
Yesterday, Information Liaison to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Robert Persaud, expressed his profound sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas, calling it “… a blow to our local media pool.”
Thomas, according to Kaieteur News reports, had been hospitalized at the Georgetown Hospital, but was only placed in the ICU on Sunday evening after his condition deteriorated.
Sandiford, 73, a stalwart member of the People’s National Congress Reform, also died on Monday night. He was a retired public servant and for many years was the country’s director of Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Youth and Sport. He is survived by his wife Julia, 6 children, 14 grandchildren.
Leptospirosis is passed to following exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rodents, according to the Center for Disease Control. At least 80 other people are infected with the disease.
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