MANILA, Philippines - Nine more people have died of leptospirosis, bringing the death toll to 157, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
Based on the reports coming from 15 sentinel hospitals, the DOH said that as of Oct. 21, the number of patients also rose to 2,046 after 83 more individuals contracted leptospira, the bacteria that causes leptospirosis.
But according to Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, program manager of the DOH’s Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases, containment efforts should not be focused on leptospirosis alone because there are other illnesses observed in evacuation centers set up in the aftermath of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”
“We hope that the media, the local government units and other concerned sectors will not focus only on leptospirosis.
We are also (watchful) of other illnesses that may spread in affected areas,” he said.
A DOH report showed that out of the 34,866 people seen in various evacuation centers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, 54 percent are suffering from acute respiratory illness.
Some 18 percent had skin infections and wounds, 14 percent had acute gastroenteritis, seven percent had influenza-like illness and 0.3 percent had severe acute respiratory illness or pneumonia.
Leesuy, however, clarified that there is no outbreak of these diseases as the DOH had immediately deployed medical teams to attend to affected persons.
He added that there is still no cause for alarm but the public should not be complacent about any type of illness.
“The best is prevention so if they feel any symptoms, they must see a doctor,” Leesuy maintained.
Last Thursday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stressed that a downtrend on leptospirosis cases has been observed since Oct. 16.
The health chief, however, warned that the downtrend could be reversed when typhoon “Ramil” brings in heavy rains, as predicted by weather experts.
Duque had asked the public not to be complacent when it comes to leptospirosis by avoiding floodwaters, if possible, or by wearing boots when wading through floods.