Taguig offers doxycycline tablets vs leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines — Taguig has started distributing free tablets of doxycycline, an antibiotic, to all of its barangays to prevent possible outbreaks of leptospirosis in the city.

Residents aged nine and above whose communities were flooded may claim the doxycycline tablets at their respective barangay health centers, Mayor Lani Cayetano said yesterday.

She reminded pregnant residents and those who are breastfeeding that they cannot take doxycycline.

Cases of leptospirosis increase after floods when people are exposed to water contaminated with the urine of rats or animals infected with the Leptospira bacteria.

The health office said residents who experience symptoms of leptospirosis such as fever, headaches, eye redness or jaundice, vomiting or diarrhea need to be rushed to a hospital.

Meanwhile, Cayetano said the city government has distributed aid to families affected by the floods and the landslide that occurred in Barangay Western Bicutan last Thursday that displaced 23 families.