With 1,027 new cases, DOH declares outbreak
By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that it has declared a leptospirosis outbreak in three villages in Marikina City, and that the total number of cases in Metro Manila has surged to 1,027 with 89 fatalities. Barangay Tumana, Malanday and Concepcion I of Marikina had at least five cases each of leptospirosis.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said, “We have declared an outbreak there, but by outbreak, we do not necessarily mean that we have a big number of cases. We can declare an outbreak if previously, the place had no case of the disease, then suddenly, several cases were reported.”
Parts of the Philippine shoe capital are still flooded, which serves as the main avenue for the disease-causing bacteria to enter through human skin.
Some areas in Metro Manila and Region IV-A (particularly Calabarzon or the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) were like Marikina, one of the most affected by the heavy rains brought by tropical storm Ondoy three weeks ago.
Weather reports said that Ondoy dumped more than a month’s worth of rain in about nine hours.
Meanwhile on Friday, Undersecretary Romeo Momo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that some areas in Marikina and Pasig were expected to remain flooded for up to five more months—even longer if there were more rains.
“[Waters would go down by] 1.3 centimeters per day with the assumption that there will be no more rains,” he added.
Reported cases
The total number of leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila alone as of October 15 (1,027) has already surpassed last year’s total number of cases nationwide (769). Metro Manila, or the National Capital Region, is comprised of 16 cities and a municipality and is home to about 8 to 10 million people.
Quezon City has the most number of cases in the capital region with 122, followed by Marikina, 82. Manila has 49 and the most number of patients (273) were admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital.
Rizal province, one of worst areas affected by Ondoy, also reported 54 cases.
Officials alarmed
Health authorities are alarmed by the sudden increase in leptospirosis cases in just four days, especially in Metro Manila.
Duque said that on Monday, there were only 140 reported cases in Metro Manila. The figure shot up to 344 after a day and surged to 700 by Wednesday.
On Friday, the Health department convened its Task Force Ondoy and resolved to provide prophylaxis to 1.3 million people in Metro Manila and in Calabarzon where people are exposed or at risk of contracting the disease. The floodwaters in some parts of those areas, particularly communities around Laguna de Bay, are not expected to recede until December.
The Health department has allotted P30.4 million, half of which would be provided for the health needs of 760 projected complicated cases, and the other half to the needs of the projected 3,040 uncomplicated ones.
Duque also said that 19 private hospitals would also admit leptospirosis incidents if in case the 12 Health department-run hospitals and those operated by the local governments could not accommodate the surge of patients.
Deadly disease
Leptospirosis is caused by swallowing the bacteria directly from water, absorbing it through cuts in the skin, or through food. The disease, which is commonly associated with rat urine, can also come from animals like cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.
The disease can also be passed from human-to-human contact, said Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the Health department’s emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. He was the guest at the weekly media forum in Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City on Friday.
He advised people to be vigilant, given the surge in cases suggest an epidemic. But he also said that people needed to remain calm.
Symptoms of the disease may appear suddenly—sometimes as early as four days after exposure, or other times as late as 21 days. Common signs and symptoms are flu-like and include fever, a red skin rash and general weakness. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and fatigue are also common. Incubation period may last up to a month.
Duque said, “We strongly advise anyone who had a history of wading in the recent floods and who has the symptoms of the disease to consult at once at the nearest doctor or health facility for treatment.”
With Reports From Camille Bianca Lopez, Immanuel Pastolero And Jan Erick Tutaan
By Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that it has declared a leptospirosis outbreak in three villages in Marikina City, and that the total number of cases in Metro Manila has surged to 1,027 with 89 fatalities. Barangay Tumana, Malanday and Concepcion I of Marikina had at least five cases each of leptospirosis.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said, “We have declared an outbreak there, but by outbreak, we do not necessarily mean that we have a big number of cases. We can declare an outbreak if previously, the place had no case of the disease, then suddenly, several cases were reported.”
Parts of the Philippine shoe capital are still flooded, which serves as the main avenue for the disease-causing bacteria to enter through human skin.
Some areas in Metro Manila and Region IV-A (particularly Calabarzon or the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) were like Marikina, one of the most affected by the heavy rains brought by tropical storm Ondoy three weeks ago.
Weather reports said that Ondoy dumped more than a month’s worth of rain in about nine hours.
Meanwhile on Friday, Undersecretary Romeo Momo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that some areas in Marikina and Pasig were expected to remain flooded for up to five more months—even longer if there were more rains.
“[Waters would go down by] 1.3 centimeters per day with the assumption that there will be no more rains,” he added.
Reported cases
The total number of leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila alone as of October 15 (1,027) has already surpassed last year’s total number of cases nationwide (769). Metro Manila, or the National Capital Region, is comprised of 16 cities and a municipality and is home to about 8 to 10 million people.
Quezon City has the most number of cases in the capital region with 122, followed by Marikina, 82. Manila has 49 and the most number of patients (273) were admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital.
Rizal province, one of worst areas affected by Ondoy, also reported 54 cases.
Officials alarmed
Health authorities are alarmed by the sudden increase in leptospirosis cases in just four days, especially in Metro Manila.
Duque said that on Monday, there were only 140 reported cases in Metro Manila. The figure shot up to 344 after a day and surged to 700 by Wednesday.
On Friday, the Health department convened its Task Force Ondoy and resolved to provide prophylaxis to 1.3 million people in Metro Manila and in Calabarzon where people are exposed or at risk of contracting the disease. The floodwaters in some parts of those areas, particularly communities around Laguna de Bay, are not expected to recede until December.
The Health department has allotted P30.4 million, half of which would be provided for the health needs of 760 projected complicated cases, and the other half to the needs of the projected 3,040 uncomplicated ones.
Duque also said that 19 private hospitals would also admit leptospirosis incidents if in case the 12 Health department-run hospitals and those operated by the local governments could not accommodate the surge of patients.
Deadly disease
Leptospirosis is caused by swallowing the bacteria directly from water, absorbing it through cuts in the skin, or through food. The disease, which is commonly associated with rat urine, can also come from animals like cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.
The disease can also be passed from human-to-human contact, said Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the Health department’s emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. He was the guest at the weekly media forum in Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City on Friday.
He advised people to be vigilant, given the surge in cases suggest an epidemic. But he also said that people needed to remain calm.
Symptoms of the disease may appear suddenly—sometimes as early as four days after exposure, or other times as late as 21 days. Common signs and symptoms are flu-like and include fever, a red skin rash and general weakness. Headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and fatigue are also common. Incubation period may last up to a month.
Duque said, “We strongly advise anyone who had a history of wading in the recent floods and who has the symptoms of the disease to consult at once at the nearest doctor or health facility for treatment.”
With Reports From Camille Bianca Lopez, Immanuel Pastolero And Jan Erick Tutaan
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