ABSTRACT
As the world is still fighting to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus, the United Republic of Tanzania has been confronting yet another bacterial infection called leptospirosis (LS). It is caused by the spirochete bacteria of genus Leptospira, and has been known to infect several people, already claiming a number of lives. It infects 1 million people annually with ~60 000 deaths having a fatality rate of 6.85% worldwide. COVID has profusely burdened the healthcare system worldwide within the past 2 years; it has sabotaged medical management and brought down resources, which has now made it difficult for any country to withstand another pandemic. LS has overburdened the medical care system of Tanzania abjectly; it is now imperative not to overlook environmental factors, like a flood, the presence of rodents, unsatisfactory socioeconomic conditions in areas where dogs reside, substandard wastewater and garbage disposal facilities, or any other factor which might lead to further spread of LS and put Tanzania in jeopardy.
ABSTRACT
This editorial highlights the alarming increase in pediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology. Global strategies should be implemented to prevent the current high workload of the healthcare system from getting worse.