The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced on March 26 that it is strengthening the skills of health professionals across Peru to ensure quality care for patients affected by leptospirosis. The initiative comes in response to reported cases of the disease, with a series of virtual and in-person training sessions being held nationwide.
This effort aims to provide health workers with key guidelines on diagnosing, treating, and organizing services for leptospirosis patients. The trainings are based on the “Flowchart for Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Persons Affected by Leptospirosis,” focusing on the national context.
One session titled “360° Approach to Leptospirosis: Management, Diagnosis, Treatment, Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory” included experts from the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control; National Institute of Health; and Directorate for Prevention and Control of Metaxenic Diseases and Zoonoses. More than 550 health professionals participated in this event. Topics covered included clinical management flowcharts, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, and differential diagnosis techniques.
The next training session is scheduled for March 27 under the name “Leptospirosis in Times of Rain: Keys to Timely Differential Diagnosis and Effective Therapeutic Management,” organized jointly with the Medical College of Peru.
In addition to training efforts, Minsa has deployed technical teams led by Minister Juan Velasco Guerrero in Piura region and by the Vice Minister of Public Health in Tumbes. A brigade comprising 16 health professionals was also sent to San Martín region to support care related to both leptospirosis and dengue cases. Furthermore, more than 43,000 ELISA IgM test kits have been distributed nationally as part of an initial delivery coordinated between several agencies within Minsa.
As reported up until Epidemiological Week No. 11 (March 25), there have been a total of 1,238 confirmed cases and nine deaths from leptospirosis nationwide. Deaths were recorded in Piura (4), Tumbes (2), San Martín (1), Madre de Dios (1), and Lima (1).
These measures are part of ongoing efforts by Minsa to improve public health responses during periods when infectious diseases such as leptospirosis become more prevalent.
