Recent leptospirosis cases unlikely to become health emergency —expert

The recent rise in leptospirosis cases in the country is unlikely to trigger a health emergency, infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said Sunday. 

“Expected naman ang ganitong klaseng number of cases. Usually ganito 'yung mga admission namin, 25 to 28 cases a day pero ang tingin ko rito, hindi naman aabot sa health emergency,” Solante told Super Radyo DzBB.

(We’re expecting this number of cases. Usually our admission is 25 to 28 [patients] a day, but I think it would not escalate into a health emergency.)

"I think this is the peak of the surge [ng mga kaso ng leptospirosis]. If we are going to extend the incubation for three weeks, mukhang may mga kaso pa rin tayo next week pero hindi na ganoon kadami,” he added.

(I think this is the peak of the surge of leptospirosis cases. If we are going to extend the incubation for three weeks, it seems like we will still have leptospirosis cases next week, but fewer.)

Department of Health spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo on Saturday said East Avenue Medical Center tops the list of DOH hospitals in terms of the number of admitted leptospirosis patients.

This is followed by: San Lazaro Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Sta. Ana Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, Quezon City General Hospital, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, Ilocos Training and Regional Center, Dr. Jose M Rodriguez (Tala Memorial Hospital) and Tondo Medical Center.

Solante also said San Lazaro Hospital currently has 130 admissions of leptospirosis patients, where most have a severe form of the disease.

He noted that San Lazaro Hospital’s mortality rate is 11 to 13%, and fatalities are between 19 and 40 years old.

Of the 130 leptospirosis patients admitted to San Lazaro Hospital, 15 have died.

“Fifty percent ng mga kaso namin [sa San Lazaro Hospital] ay galing talaga dito sa Metro Manila. May mga ospital sa ibang lugar na kulang sa kagamitan, hindi ma-manage especially kapag severe leptospirosis na,” Solante said.

(Fifty percent of our leptospirosis cases [in the hospital] are from Metro Manila. There are hospitals in other areas that lack equipment and cannot manage severe leptospirosis.)

Solante said San Lazaro Hospital had 20 admissions of leptospirosis patients on Saturday.

“So far, kumakaunti na [ang mga leptospirosis patient na dinadala sa San Lazaro Hospital] pero ang mga pumapasok ngayon ay 'yung mga severe talaga,” he said.

(So far, we have fewer leptospirosis patients brought to the San Lazaro Hospital, but they have severe cases.)

Seek medical attention

Solante urged the public not to wait for severe leptospirosis and to immediately go to the hospital when experiencing symptoms like having little urine output and body aches, especially in the lower part of the leg.

He said a person can still contract leptospirosis even if he did not wade through the floods, as long as he made contact with contaminated water.

"Mayroong mga kasong ganyan [nagkaroon ng leptospirosis kahit hindi lumusong sa baha] pero natalsikan ang mata o bibig nila habang nagmo-motor sila. 'Yun ang mga instances ng exposure. Baka napakarumi ng tubig," Solante said. 

(Some acquire leptospirosis even if they did not wade through the flood. An example is when their eyes or mouths were splashed by contaminated water while they were riding a motorcycle.)

Solante also refuted claims that the increase in leptospirosis cases in the country is caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

“Walang kaugnayan ang paghina ng immune system sa kahit anong uri ng bakuna (any vaccine has nothing to do with the weakening of one’s immune system.)," he said. —KG, GMA Integrated News