Linking leptospirosis to failed flood projects just politicking —Rep. Garin

Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin, a former secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), on Saturday maintained that the rise in leptospirosis cases in parts of the country has nothing to do with the controversial flood control projects.

“Leptospirosis is a different matter… So if you ask me, alam mo, pamumulitika ulit ‘yung nili-link sa flood control projects eh,” Garin said. 

Earlier, the DOH said that the number of leptospirosis cases may still rise in the next few days.

According to the Health Department, a total of 1,272 leptospirosis cases were recorded nationwide from July 13 to August 6. Some of those cases led to deaths, including 13 fatalities at the San Lazaro Hospital.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through the urine of infected animals such as rats. The urine may mix with floodwater and get into the bodies of persons wading through floods.

Its symptoms include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, and headaches. 

“If you ask me, it’s a failure ng communication, reaching the people, and it’s a failure of implementation because the budget is there, the medicines are there, napakamura ng doxycycline pero hindi nagamit nang maayos,” Garin said.

“It’s very painful to see people dying, people critical in the hospitals, for an illness that should’ve been preventable,” she added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News