Kendal — Nur Aziza, a student of the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) at Diponegoro University, actively participated in efforts to control leptospirosis cases in Kebonharjo Village, Patebon Subdistrict, Kendal Regency. This activity began following a report of a leptospirosis case in February 2025 in the village, which had previously been affected by flooding in January 2025.
As a rapid response, on February 19, 2025, the Kendal District Health Office, together with Patebon II Community Health Center, conducted screening using the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to detect possible new cases in the community. Of the 45 people examined, five tested positive, bringing the total number of leptospirosis cases in Kebonharjo Village to six.
In addition to human screening, the team also carried out an environmental investigation to identify potential sources of transmission. This activity included trapping rats to check for the presence of Leptospira spp bacteria in their kidneys, as well as testing water quality using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. The environmental assessment was conducted by the Banjarnegara Public Health Laboratory Center with support from FETP Universitas Diponegoro students over three days, from February 25–27, 2025.
Photo: Nur Aziza participates in rat trapping for laboratory examination at the Banjarnegara Public Health Laboratory Center.
The examination results showed that out of 23 rats tested, seven were positive for Leptospira spp. This finding strengthens the suspicion that the post-flood environment contributed to an increased risk of leptospirosis transmission, either through contact with contaminated water or interaction with animal carriers of the bacteria. The high number of rats trapped also indicated a high rodent population density in the residential area.
This condition highlights the importance of rodent population control and community education on leptospirosis prevention. The involvement of FETP Diponegoro University students not only provided valuable field experience but also made a tangible contribution to early detection, epidemiological investigation, and the control of environmentally based diseases.
“Being directly involved in leptospirosis control in Kebonharjo Village has been a very valuable experience for me. I not only learned field epidemiology investigation techniques but also realized how important cooperation is between health workers, local government, and the community. This experience has strengthened my commitment to continue contributing to disease control in Indonesia,” said Nur Aziza, an FETP Universitas Diponegoro student.