Leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila on the rise 

Government health facilities in Metro Manila have been placed on a code blue alert as leptospirosis cases continued to rise after torrential rains flooded most of the metropolis and nearby provinces two weeks ago. 

 

"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," Dr. Enrique Tayag, Head of the National Epidemiology Center, said in an interview on dzBB radio. 

 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is passed on to humans through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment, such as floodwaters. 

 

As of Monday, 230 leptospirosis cases have been reported since August 7 at the East Avenue Medical Center alone. 

 

The Quezon City hospital’s 40-bed leptospirosis ward is completely overwhelmed as 81 patients are currently being treated. Around 17 of these cases are severe cases; these patients need hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis to aid their malfunctioning kidneys.

 

And it just gets worse as sixteen new cases were recorded Monday. The fifth floor lobby has since been converted into an extra ward to accommodate the great number of patients.  

 

Severe cases "What we really don't like na mangyari sa pasyente bago magpakonsulta ay yung wala na silang ihi, hindi na umiihi ng tatlo, apat na araw o di kaya namumula na ang mata, naninilaw yung balat at mata," said EAMC chief of staff Dr. Emmanuel Bueno in an interview on GMA 7 program “24 Oras.” 

 

"Late stage na ito, when ang ating kidneys ay hindi na nagfa-function. Yung dialysis na ang silbi magfu-function para sa kidneys natin," Bueno added. 

One of the severe cases is Renante Relucio, a barangay tanod who helped rescue his neighbors during the monsoon floods. His eyes and skin are yellowish. He has a fever and has not eaten or urinated for days.

 

Relucio says that he doesn't regret wading into the floodwaters though, "Hindi tayo magsisisi sa pagiging rescuer."

 

However, Allan Cabangal, who just finished his hemodialysis treatment and is under observation, says otherwise, "Hindi na talaga. Kahit sino makipagpalit ako."

 

Monitoring northern Metro Manila Tayag said the DOH is monitoring the northern parts of Metro Manila, noting that many of the patients they have treated so far were from Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.

 

He said they recorded at least 783 cases in 14 government and local government hospitals from August 5 to 22. Around 14 of these cases died from the disease. 

 

Tayag explained that there were only 176 cases from August 5 to 15. But the numbers rose to 564 from Aug. 16 to 22, when the monsoon floods occurred.

 

Health Secretary Enrique Ona had given instructions that patients coming from evacuation centers should not be billed for their procedures, Tayag added. 

 

"Marami sa hospital may renal failure... di maihi, binibigyan ng peritoneal dialysis," added Tayag. 

 

However, Bueno assured the public that the EAMC has enough supplies of medicine and equipment for the leptospirosis victims, and that doctors and nurses have been trained to provide dialysis treatments.

 

The Department of Health advised the public to seek medical attention right away if they experience fever, vomiting, a stomachache, and a difficulty in urination after having waded in floodwaters. — Aileen Estoquia/DVM, GMA News