(Eagle News) — The Department of Health has confirmed that deaths due to leptospirosis have almost doubled and reached more than 200 this year.
According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque, the spike in the number of leptospirosis victims was monitored with the start of the rainy season this June when flooding became more frequent.
The floods in the past few weeks that affected many low-lying areas in Metro Manila and other parts of the country have contributed to this increase in leptospirosis deaths, he said.
DOH data showed that from January to August this year, deaths due to leptospirosis was recorded at 218, which is almost double the recorded deaths of 124 for the same period last year.
Of these 218 deaths, 92 were in Metro Manila.
Duque also said that so far this year, the total number of leptospirosis cases nationwide reached 2,229, which is more than double the recorded 1,085 cases last year.
Of this number, 1,227 cases were also recorded in Metro Manila.
Duque said that this number is 358 percent higher than the 268 cases that was recorded from January to June of 2017 in the Philippine capital.
“Urbanization has something to do with it. There are about 13.5 million Filipinos in the National Capital Region. Sa buong Kamaynilaan lamang yan at dikit-dikit, tabi-tabi, (may) congestion ang mga tirahan ng bahay. Ang tindi ng basura na nangyayari at medyo kahinaan o kulang sa efficiency kasanayan sa pagkolekta ng basura. Ito ay nakakadagdag sa problema,” the DOH chief said.
The official noted that Metro Manila seems to be the most affected by the disease because of the contiguous houses and piles of garbage where rats usually live.
Some of the areas being monitored by the DOH for possible outbreak were Pulong Duhat, Longos in Tonsuya, Malabon; Caloocan; Pasig; and Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City.
“What’s very important is that we have this level of awareness among our people, and in particular, in our children. So that, bata pa lang po sila, alam na po nila ang dapat gawin para maiwasan ang mga nakamamatay na sakit gaya ng dengue at leptospirosis,” Duque said in an interview.
The Health Secretary then asked the public to help in cleaning their own community and to throw their garbage properly so that the presence of rats will be minimized in their areas. (Meanne Corvera)