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Leptospirosis outbreak declared in 18 Metro Manila barangays


The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday declared a leptospirosis outbreak in 18 barangays in seven cities in Metro Manila.

The barangays, as tweeted by Super Radyo dzBB reporter Carlo Mateo, are as follows:

 

The DOH, in a statement, said Quezon City had 40 cases in nine barangays from June 10 to July 3 this year: Brgy. Bagbag (3 cases), Brgy. Silangan (5), Brgy. Batasan Hills (9), Brgy. Commonwealth (7), Brgy. Novaliches Proper (4), Brgy. Payatas (5), Brgy. Pinyahan (3), Brgy. Vasra (4);

Taguig had 16 cases in four barangays: Brgy. Lower Bicutan (5), Brgy. Maharlika Village (3), Brgy. Signal Village (4), Brgy. Western Bicutan (4);

Paranaque had six cases in two barangays, Brgy. BF Homes (3) and Brgy. San Dionisio (3), and Pasig had four in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

Navotas (three in Brgy. North Bay Blvd. South), Mandaluyong (three in Brgy. Addition Hills), and Malabon (three in Brgy. Concepcion) were advised to be on alert due to their high risk of having their case numbers increase.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III made the announcement in an interview on Thursday morning.

The DOH conducted an intensified monitoring and management of leptospirosis cases following an increase of patients admitted due to the disease at various hospitals around Metro Manila.

According to a report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras", the DOH recorded 299 cases in areas where an outbreak had been declared from January to July this year, with 41 of these cases ending in death.

The count had twice exceeded the total of 148 recorded cases during the same period last year.

The DOH also found that in two weeks, the number of leptosirosis cases in areas affected by the outbreak alone, had exceeded the average number of cases recorded weekly in the past five years.

Local authorities and communities in some of the affected areas started taking necessary measures to prevent the number of leptospirosis cases and the death toll from climbing.

In Barangay Lower Bicutan, community leaders called an emergency meeting during which they discussed the barangay's preparedness in terms of supplies and health personnel.

Flooding, poor hygiene

Duque and other doctors attributed the increase in cases to flooding, given the recent inclement weather, as well as to poor hygiene.

“We advise those who have flu-like symptoms now and who had previously waded in floodwaters to seek immediate medical treatment in the nearest health facility,”  Duque urged in a statement.

Experts advised the public to avoid wading through floodwater especially if they have simple skin abrasions as the leptospira virus from infected animals may enter the body through cuts.

Leptospirosis’ symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, eye redness, yellowing of skin, tea colored urine, decreased urine output, cough, diarrhea and vomiting. 

Untreated leptospirosis may cause kidney failure, brain damage, massive internal bleeding, and death.

The number of leptospirosis cases hit 1,030 between January to June 2018, marking a 41 percent increase in cases compared to the same period last year.

Of these, 99 persons have died of the water-borne disease.

According to a statement by the DOH, 368 leptospirosis cases with 52 deaths have been reported in Metro Manila from January 1 to July 3, with 105 observed from June 10 to July 3. — Margaret Claire Layug/Rie Takumi/MDM/KBK/DVM, GMA News

Tags: leptospirosis
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