Leptospirosis cases at NKTI declining — DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported a decline in the number of leptospirosis cases at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) following a surge due to the recent floods. 

DOH Undersecretary Mary Anne Palermo-Maestral said that as per the latest monitoring, there were zero admission cases for leptospirosis at the NKTI in the last three days. 

“As per our rounds, the last three days, wala na tayong admissions at tsaka maraming napauwi na. Sa ngayon, bumababa na and very minimal na, mga pagaling na lang ang naiwan sa ating facilities,” Palermo-Maestral told the Senate health and finance committee hearing. 

(As per our rounds, there were zero admissions and many cases have been sent home in the last three days. Now, the cases are fewer and very minimal patients who are recovering in our facility.)

Leptospirosis, a potentially serious  infection caused by wading through waters contaminated by the urine of infected animals such as rats, is caused when the bacteria enters the human body through fresh wounds or through the mouth, nose, or eyes. Symptoms include fever, nausea, dizziness, and body fatigue.

The DOH logged 2,396 leptospirosis cases nationwide from June 8 to August 7, 2025. 

“Kapag nagkakaroon ng surge sa cases, what we do sa ating mga hospitals, meron silang surge plan na sinusunod. ‘Pag dumadami ang cases, nag eexpand sila ng bed capacity sa areas na bakante like conference rooms,  gyms kaya na-accommodate ang surge,”  Palermo-Maestral said. 

(When there is a surge in cases, our hospitals follow a surge plan. We expand our bed capacity in areas like conference rooms and gyms.)

“Meron na rin tayong ginawa na parang patient navigation, triage, endorsements, disposition. Ito ‘yung parang galing sa One Hospital Command dati na yung hospitals pag nagkakaroon nang maraming cases, tumatawag sa center para matulungan na maglipat-lipat ng pasyente,” she added. 

(We also conducted patient navigation, triage, endorsements, and disposition. This is similar to the One Hospital Command, wherein the hospitals call for other medical facilities to cater their other patients.)

Several hospitals in Metro Manila earlier reported an influx of leptospirosis cases following the floods brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and a series of tropical cyclones that hit the country. 

The DOH earlier identified 20 hospitals, including those administered by government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), in Metro Manila that were ready to receive patients that other emergency rooms could no longer accommodate.

The Health Department also opened “fast lanes” in some hospitals to quickly treat leptospirosis patients. — RF, GMA Integrated News