Capitol creates task force vs leptospirosis

Anticipating a possible spike in leptospirosis cases following the massive flooding caused by Typhoon Tino, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has formed the Cebu Provincial Leptospirosis Task Force to ensure a unified and coordinated response among local government units, hospitals, and private stakeholders.

Baricuatro issued Executive Order (EO) No. 70 on November 10, formally creating the task force.

“There is an urgent need to institutionalize a unified, province-wide Leptospirosis Task Force to coordinate case management, resource deployment, and surveillance across local government units (LGUs) and hospitals, as well as private sector stakeholders, including but not limited to tertiary hospitals, standalone hemodialysis clinics, and medical schools, in alignment with Department of Health guidelines and the Cebu Provincial Disaster Response Framework,” the EO stated.

Data from the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) showed 141 leptospirosis cases recorded from January 1 to August 5, 2025. Baricuatro said this figure highlights the province’s continued vulnerability to post-flood leptospirosis outbreaks.

“Early detection, prompt antibiotic administration, and coordinated renal replacement therapy (RRT) for severe cases are proven to reduce mortality, yet these require centralized referral coordination, logistics management, and data integration at the provincial level,” Baricuatro added.

Under the executive order, the task force’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated to manage referrals for suspected and confirmed cases. The EOC will operate 24/7 and maintain a hotline to assist front-line health facilities.

Among the task force’s core functions are:

* Coordinating case triage and referral through a consultant-on-deck system to ensure immediate classification of cases (mild, moderate, severe) and facilitate inter-facility coordination for dialysis as needed;

* Managing logistics and supplies, including antibiotics and dialysis materials, through the EOC warehouse and logistics desk;

* Monitoring and reporting data via a real-time dashboard, consolidating shift reports and daily summaries of cases, transfers, RRT utilization, and supply status;

* Coordinating with hospitals, rural health units, and LGUs to strengthen surveillance, prompt reporting, and implementation of prevention protocols; and

* Ensuring alignment with DOH guidelines and coordinating technical assistance from DOH-CVCHDI and partner institutions.

The EOC will be composed of several operational desks—clinical, logistics and transport, and information management—under the supervision of an incident commander, who will oversee operations, ensure coordination across all units, and provide policy direction to the governor.

Funding for the task force’s operations will come from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (PDRRMF), the Provincial Health Office, and other available sources, subject to standard accounting and auditing rules. — /FPL (FREEMAN)