10 leptospirosis deaths from 51 cases at EAMC

A total of 10 patients died out of the 51 persons afflicted with leptospirosis at the East Avenue Medical Center from June 1 to July 1, according to a report on Balitanghali.

Tricia Zafra reported on Tuesday that the 51 cases were a marked increase for the hospital as it only recorded six cases of leptospirosis in the same period last year.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque II toured entire fifth level of the EAMC after it was converted into a ward for leptospirosis patients as part of the DOH's intensified monitoring and management of leptospirosis cases.

Duque and other doctors noted that back-to-back rainshower, floods caused by uncollected trash clogging drains, and a greater number of nests for leptospira carriers may have contributed to the increased leptospirosis cases.

He asked local government units to conduct rodent control, improve flood control, drain potentially contaminated water, and enforce garbage collection.

The EAMC was the third hospital visited by the Health secretary following a spike in the number of leptospirosis cases.

It has the second largest number of leptospirosis cases in Manila and follows the National Kidney Transplant Institute (75 cases), and comes before the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) (13 cases).

Duque, however, noted that this was not enough to declare an outbreak.

He also reminded the public to go to the nearest health center and get treatment the minute they suspect that they have leptospirosis to avoid complications. — Rie Takumi/MDM, GMA News