Via The Philippine Star, a logical consequence of the recent flood reports: DOH activates leptospirosis alert amid heavy rains.
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) sounded its leptospirosis alert yesterday as continuous heavy rain caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and in several provinces.
“Lepto Alert means people in flooded areas are advised to visit hospitals at the first sign of fever for treatment of leptospirosis,” Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said.
He added that those “who will continue to be exposed in possibly contaminated floodwater should take doxycycline 200mg once weekly.”
Tayag said that medical teams may also conduct mass prophylaxis in flood-affected areas while hospitals should prepare for influx of patients and anticipate needs for dialysis.
The DOH has reiterated calls for the public to be observant of leptospirosis symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache and reddish eyes in some cases.
Those in the advanced stages may experience yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stool, severe headache, low urine output, kidney failure, liver and brain damage and respiratory spasm.
Tayag warned that those with open wounds have bigger chance of getting infected because of direct contact to contaminated floodwater.
From Jan. 1 to July 7, the DOH has recorded a total of 2,003 leptospirosis cases or 125.7 percent higher than the 887 cases posted in the same period last week. Ninety-seven of those infected have died.
