Metro gov’t hospitals on alert for leptospirosis cases

MANILA, Philippines – The health department placed all government hospitals in Metro Manila under Code Blue Alert on Thursday, April 23, after 20 government hospitals in the area reported 783 leptospirosis cases, 34 of which resulted in death.

Code Blue means that hospitals must prepare for influx of patients in terms of manpower and logistics and that 20 to 50 patients are expected to be brought to a hospital.

“Based on our ‘special quick count, cases of leptospirosis increased. We cannot say if those cases are all coming from Metro Manila. It is possible that many of the cases were from the provinces but they were only brought to Metro Manila for treatment,” said DOH Assistant Secretary Dr Eric Tayag in an interview.

Tayag said they were really expecting to see an increase in leptospirosis cases following massive flooding brought on by monsoon rains in early to mid August. The incubation period for leptospirosis is five to 10 days.

Tayag strongly advised those who have history of wading in flood water to see a doctor the moment they develop symptoms like fever.

He urged those who will develop the illness not to wait for their condition to worsen before seeing a doctor because they may develop complications like kidney failure.  

From Aug 16 to 22, a total of 51 leptospirosis patients were already brought to the DOH-run National Kidney and Transplant Institute, according to Tayag. Tayag said he could not confirm how many of them have undergone dialysis.

Costly treatment

Tayag warned that treating severe cases of leptospirosis may cost P15,000 to P25,000 for 40 sessions of peritoneal dialysis. If disease is addressed in its early stages, leptospirosis only needs to be treated with antibiotics.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be acquired by wading in floodwater or through direct contact in water contaminated with the urine of infected rats.

From Jan 1 to Aug 18, the DOH saw a total of 2,471 cases, including 129 deaths.  

Western Visayas accounted for 454 cases (37 deaths); Metro Manila for 225 cases (21 deaths) and Northern Mindanao for 126 cases (9 deaths).

According to Tayag, the DOH met with hospital officials in Metro Manila last Wednesday and it was agreed upon that hospitals will give priority to leptospirosis patients. 

“They have agreed that for the meantime, there will be no elective surgeries. Priority will be given to leptospirosis patients, especially those in need of dialysis,” Tayag said. – Rappler.com

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