Nearly 100 deaths from leptospirosis
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/17/2009 8:20 PM
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MANILA – The number of leptospirosis cases and deaths continued to rise in Metro Manila and southern Tagalog region as floodwaters from the back-to-back storms have yet to subside.
“As of today, we have recorded 1,336 cases of leptospirosis with 96 deaths,” Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control said.
Oliveros gave the updates on the cases of leptospirosis during a briefing by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) held Saturday afternoon.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection. It can easily be acquired by wading through floodwaters contaminated by rat urine that carries the bacteria.
“Madali po itong ma-contact ng tao kung ang taong lumulusong sa baha ay mayroong broken skin or wounds. Sa ganitong mga pagkakataon na mayroon tayong flooding, more often than not, may mga sugat ang ating mga kababayan na nakababad talaga sa baha, and therefore, the risk of contracting the disease...madali pong ma-transmit sa kanila,” she explained.
On Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) declared outbreaks of the disease in Tumana, Concepcion I, and Malanday in Marikina City.
“We have noted also clustering of cases in Bagong Silang, Quezon City; Tejeros, Makati; Maj. Dizon in Marikina, and Santolan, in Pasig,” Oliveros said.
Doxycycline prophylaxis
She said the health department is now conducting mass prophylaxis of doxycycline to population or areas identified as “high-risk.”
The DOH is providing two capsules of 100 milligrams of doxycycline every week to people exposed to floodwaters or in areas deemed as high risks.
“They can take doxycycline once a week. Ito po yung ipinamimigay ng Department of Health dito po sa high-risk areas. Ibibigay po yan every week hanggang exposed sila sa baha,” she said.
The DOH considers an area “high risk” if the population is in continuous contact with flood water.
“The DOH is providing this for free, not only for those living in that area, but also to the first responders--yung mga nagbibigay po ng relief, and also to the health workers serving those high-risks areas,” she explained.
Furthermore, she said Duque issued an instruction that all patients seen and diagnosed to have leptospirosis at DOH hospitals be treated for free.
Tap help of private hospitals
The DOH also tapped the assistance of private hospitals to provide services to more patients suspected to have contracted leptospirosis.
“And because of the surge of patients in the government hospitals, we are also coordinating with private hospitals in Metro Manila to receive excess patients that the DOH hospitals can no longer handle,” she said.
She reported the willingness of many private hospitals to accept excess patients, but “not really for free.”
“We are asking them if they can bill the Department of Health for some of the expenses that these patients can incur,” she said.
People suffering from leptospirosis experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle and joint pains. They also usually have yellowing of the skin or abdominal pain. Symptoms of diarrhea may also occur.
“Kailangang magpatingin kaagad sa doktor or sa ating pinakamalapit na health facility upang ma-confirm o magamot agad. Kung delayed po ang consultation, maaring pong magkaroon ng complications kagaya ng acute renal failure,” she said.
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