DOH: Leptospirosis cases lower this year

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said cases of leptospirosis so far this year had decreased by 23 percent, with 5,486 cases recorded from Jan. 4 to Aug. 26 this year compared to 7,163 in the same period last year.

At a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Dr. Gloria Balboa noted that the National Capital Region (NCR), Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon had the highest number of cases in the country.

“In connection with the widespread flooding in our country in the past week, the DOH is continuing and strengthening the surveillance of cases of leptospirosis through our epidemiology bureau,” she said in Filipino.

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Balboa said a total of 521 patients with leptospirosis had been admitted in DOH hospitals in Metro Manila alone as of Aug. 23. The majority of these patients or 158 are currently confined at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

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“Our reminder to our fellow Filipinos is if they waded through floods, whether they have a wound or not, with or without symptoms, they should go to the nearest health center for early intervention and to get proper advice from our health workers,” she said.

‘Fast lanes’

Acting Health Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado said cases are expected to further increase in the next two weeks. But health facilities will remain operational and will have sufficient supply of medicines, he said.

He noted that 33 leptospirosis “fast lanes” have already been opened across DOH hospitals in the other affected regions, including the Ilocos region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

He added that the DOH is coordinating with local health offices in Metro Manila to improve the referral system across hospitals as part of efforts to prevent a surge in the number of patients.

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At San Lazaro Hospital, a tent has been erected to temporarily treat patients who may be infected with leptospirosis, Mercado said.

Additional nurses and “med-tech” from Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center and Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital were also deployed to San Lazaro to augment its medical staff. /cb