Leptospirosis outbreak threatens more areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported that more areas in Metro Manila face increasing risks of a leptospirosis outbreak.

In the past weeks, nearly 140 people in Metro Manila have died of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection associated with rat urine that can lead to kidney failure.

“We see clustering of leptospirosis cases in certain Quezon City and Pasig areas so we are alerting everybody against the flood-borne infection,” Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, DOH-National Center for Disease Control and Prevention director, said. Clustering of cases can eventually lead to an outbreak of infectious disease if not immediately controlled, she noted.

The DOH previously declared an outbreak of leptospirosis in three Marikina barangays – Tumana, Concepcion and Malanday.

Oliveros said the DOH could not declare an outbreak of leptospirosis in the entire Metro Manila because there are places where there are no incidences of the flood-borne disease.

From Oct. 1 to 19, the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC) had recorded a total of 1,836 leptospirosis admissions, including 132 deaths in 15 hospitals in Metro Manila.

Based on the NEC data, 28 new deaths and 171 new leptospirosis cases were recorded in a span of two days. A majority of the cases came from Quezon City and other cities in east Metro Manila.

Contrary to public perception, Oliveros said the continuing increase in the incidence of leptospirosis in Metro Manila is actually expected.

“The incubation period of leptospirosis from exposure to flood and the bacteria from the urine of rats is actually 10 to 14 days so we are seeing the increase at this time,” Oliveros explained.

While the DOH is not pleased to see spiraling cases of leptospirosis, Oliveros said, at least people are more aware now of the disease and the need to seek medical treatment.

“It is better that they are seeking treatment in hospitals and we are recording the cases instead of people dying of the infection without the government knowing about it,” Oliveros added.

She further stressed that leptospirosis does not only affect men but also women and children, anyone who wades in contaminated floodwaters.

The DOH is now providing preventive medicine to people living in areas still submerged in floodwaters in an effort to prevent the further increase of leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila.