CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Two more deaths were recorded in Rizal due to leptospirosis, bringing to 39 the total number of leptospirosis deaths in Metro Manila.
 
Acting Mayor Jonas Cruz of Rodriguez, Rizal said a 28-year-old male from Barangay Balite and an adult female from Dela Costa 5, Barangay Burgos in Rodriguez died from the fatal disease.
 
Cruz and the Provincial Health Office immediately sent a medical team in the area to investigate the case and assess the area, which remains flooded due to heavy rains brought by tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana). 
 
Health officials said more than 700 cases of leptospirosis have been reported in four government hospitals in Metro Manila. There were 134 suspected leptospirosis cases in San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) in Manila with 20 deaths recorded while East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City reported 96 cases with 19 deaths.

In Quezon City, Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) recorded more than 400 cases while 70 patients were confined at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) after they showed symptoms of the disease.

Most of the patients in the four hospitals came from parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province submerged in floods at the height of tropical storm “Ondoy” on September 26.

Laguna health officer Dr. Alsaneo Lagos said officials also recorded a suspected death from leptospirosis in Sta Cruz last Tuesday.

“An adult male, approximately 31 years old, died in Laguna Provincial Hospital but we could not confirm yet if it was leptospirosis because we don’t have a medical kit for testing in our laboratory,” Lagos said.

Batangas, Cavite and Quezon have no recorded case of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by exposure to the urine of rats and other animals in floodwaters. The incubation period before the appearance of symptoms has been observed to be as early as two days within exposure or as late as 21 days after.