Quezon City sees spike in leptospirosis cases after habagat rains

MANILA, Philippines – Leptospirosis cases in Quezon City have spiked following the heavy rains and flooding caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), with the local health monitoring unit recording 62 cases and five deaths from Aug. 5 to Aug. 18.

In a statement on Thursday, the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (QCESD) said leptospirosis cases from Aug. 5 to Aug. 18 increased by 138% compared with the previous two-week period and had breached the alert threshold.

The affected individuals were aged 4 to 74, with most of them being male, accounting for 44 of the total cases.

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READ: DOH monitoring leptospirosis cases amid widespread floods

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Among those who got infected were construction workers, who accounted for seven of the total leptospirosis cases; students from elementary to college (three cases); tricycle drivers (two); security guards (two); a garbage collector; and a delivery rider.

The areas in the city with the highest number of leptospirosis cases were Barangay Commonwealth, with eight cases, followed by Pasong Tamo (four), Batasan Hills (four), the University of the Philippines campus (three), Bagong Silangan (three), and San Antonio (three).

Overall, Quezon City recorded a total of 213 leptospirosis cases and 24 deaths from Jan. 1 to Aug. 20.

Amid the uptick in leptospirosis cases, the Quezon City Health Department urged residents to avoid unnecessary contact with floodwaters or use protective footwear and clothing if exposure cannot be prevented.

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READ: Waded through floods? DOH lists steps to prevent leptospirosis

Those who come into contact with floodwaters were advised to thoroughly wash their bodies with clean water and soap and promptly seek medical assistance if they develop symptoms such as fever, headache, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and muscle pain, particularly in the calves.

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QCESD also noted that the doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat leptospirosis, is given for free in health centers after an assessment.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with the urine of infected animals, such as rats. /jpv