MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) is anticipating a rise in the incidence of leptospirosis following the onslaught of three weather disturbances that have caused massive flooding in several regions across the country, an official said Thursday.
“Our hospitals are aware of a possible (increase in) leptospirosis cases,” said Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle, adding that they have readied the antibiotic, Doxycycline, for possible leptospirosis patients in flood-affected communities.
Leptospirosis is caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which enter the body through wounds or cuts in the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes when a person comes in contact with floodwaters or moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.
Its symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, headache, redness of the eyes, chills, and tea-colored urine. It could lead to kidney failure and affect the lungs and brain.
To avoid contracting the disease, the DOH advises the public not to swim or wade in potentially contaminated water or floodwaters; use proper protection such as boots and gloves when work exposes one to contaminated water; and drain potentially contaminated water.
Latest data from the DOH showed a total of 2,495 cases of leptospirosis nationwide in the first 11 months of 2017, 49.1 percent higher than the 1,673 recorded in the same period in 2016.
The number of deaths also rose from 172 in 2016 to 261 in 2017.
The National Capital Region had the most number of cases with 478, followed by Western Visayas (474), Ilocos (369), Central Luzon (207), and Cagayan Valley (163).
Tropical Storms Urduja and Vinta and Tropical Depression Agaton have recently wreaked havoc in Mimaropa, Visayas and Mindanao, displacing thousands of families and inflicting millions of pesos worth of damages on agricultural land and infrastructure.