IN response to one of the worst floods ever recorded in the nation’s history, Malaysia’s largest prescription pharmacy chain, Alpro Pharmacy, and the first telemedicine provider, Doc2Us, are teaming up to raise awareness on flood-borne diseases, as well as caution chronic illness patients affected by the flood on the danger in skipping their long-term medications.
“While the recovery processes are underway, water levels are still high in many places. As a community pharmacy, Alpro would like to highlight that poor sanitation and hygiene in flood areas could act as a catalyst for flood-borne diseases such as leptospirosis, cholera, and dengue fever,” said Ph Lim En Ni, Alpro’s Chief Pharmacist and Director of Engagement.
Leptospirosis is spread mainly by contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Upon infection, the incubation period can take 2 to 10 days. Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea are common symptoms, especially during the early phase of infection. At high-risk areas, one can minimize the risk of contracting leptospirosis by wearing boots, goggles and gloves when conducting post-flood cleaning.