DOH monitoring CAMANAVA area for possible leptospirosis outbreak

Published August 24, 2012 7:20am

The Department of Health is now on code blue alert for leptospirosis in Metro Manila and is monitoring some parts of the metropolis, including the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area, for possible outbreaks of the disease.

In a radio interview, National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Enrique Tayag also appealed to local government units to maintain a skeletal force to handle possible cases during the long weekend.

"Ang blue alert, ibig sabihin niyan aabot sa 50 araw-araw ang maaring dumagsa sa ospital na may kinalaman sa flood-related diseases kasama ang leptospirosis," Tayag told dzBB radio.

Possible outbreak

Tayag said they are watching the northern parts of Metro Manila for a possible outbreak of leptospirosis, which he said may be caused by wading in contaminated floodwaters.

He noted many of the patients they have treated so far were from Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.

"Ang CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area binabantayan namin baka may outbreak (We are watching the CAMANAVA area for a possible outbreak)," he said. The World Health Organization describes leptospirosis as a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment, it added.

Spike in cases

Tayag said they were forced to hoist the blue alert over Metro Manila after noting a spike in leptospirosis case after the recent heavy rain and floods.

From August 5 to 22, he said they counted at least 783 cases in 14 government and local government hospitals. Of these, at least 14 died.

But he noted that while there were only 176 cases from August 5 to 15, the cases jumped to 564 from Aug. 16 to 22, when the floods hit.

"Marami sa hospital may renal failure... di maihi, binibigyan ng peritoneal dialysis," he said.

Tayag said Health Secretary Enrique Ona had specified patients especially from evacuation centers will not need to spend for the procedures.

At the same time, Tayag said health centers should expect other possible diseases such as dengue and bronchopneumonia.

"Nakikiusap kami baka pwedeng mag-skeletal force at may mapuntahan ang tao kung hindi magdadagsaan sa hospital, taas na rin dengue at bronchopneumonia sa mga bata," he said. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: leptospirosis, departmentofhealth