Dengue, leptospirosis cases on the rise

The Department of Health’s must-do list for the public this rainy season: avoid wading in flood, clean legs and feet with soap and water or alcohol after stepping in from a downpour, and after the rains, empty containers with stagnant water that may hold dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit reiterated these reminders after the DOH recorded alarming increases in leptospirosis and dengue cases this year.

Dayrit said a total of 41 leptospirosis and 701 dengue cases were reported from January to June this year, an increase of 310 percent and 158 percent, respectively, from figures in the same period in 2002.

Data provided by the DOH show that Manila accounted for 11 leptospirosis cases — the highest in Metro Manila — while the cities of Caloocan, Parañaque and Valenzuela recorded three each. The rest came from various provinces.

Only five cases of leptospirosis were monitored nationwide last year, Dayrit noted.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by floodwaters contaminated with rat urine. Its symptoms include pain in the spine, abdomen, thigh and calves; headache, fever and vomiting.

"The spate of typhoons, which has caused flash floods in many low-lying areas of Metro Manila, predisposed people to unwillingly wade into contaminated waters just to reach their destinations," Dayrit said.

"Let us advise our family members, especially the children, not to wade or play in floodwaters. Seek immediate medical attention if leptospirosis is suspected," he said.

Dengue, on the other hand, has already claimed the lives of 11 people, Dayrit said.

Manila, he added, accounted for 29 percent of the total number of cases, while Caloocan and Parañaque registered 15 and nine percent, respectively.

Five percent of dengue patients this year were males as young as one month and as old as 65, Dayrit said.

Dengue is transmitted by Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species that thrives in stagnant water.

Dayrit said there must be regular cleaning of roof gutters, water containers and even vases to prevent them from becoming mosquito-breeding sites.