MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) declared a code white alert on Wednesday due to continuous heavy rain showers and floods brought by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).
The DOH declares the Code White alert for events or holidays with the potential to cause mass casualty incidents or emergencies. Selected medical personnel and staff are to promptly respond and provide treatment to patients arriving at hospitals.
The DOH likewise, reminded the public of the health risks of leptospirosis due to flooding in various areas.
"Mas mabuti pong umiwas sa baha at putik para makaiwas magka-lepto. Sa mga kailangangang lumusong, gumamit ng bota hanggang tuhod (Avoid flood and mud to avoid leptospirosis. Those who need to get into the flood, don’t forget to use knee-high boots),” DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by animals, such as rodents and other vermin.
Urine and feces of an infected animal, especially rats, contaminate the soil, water, and vegetation. Infected animal urine and faces can mix with flood water which can come into contact with people wading through or playing in it.
“Hugasan agad ang katawan ng malinis na tubig at sabon pagkatapos. Kumonsulta agad sa doktor, wag maging kampante kasi matagal lumabas ang sintomas (Wash your body with clean water and soap after walking in the flood. Consult a doctor immediately, don’t be complacent because symptoms take time to manifest),” he added.
Leptospirosis symptoms include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, headache, distinct pain in the calf muscles, reddish eyes, jaundice, dark-colored urine, light-colored stool, and low urine output.
It takes two to 30 days for a person to get sick after having contact with the bacteria that cause leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, trouble breathing, and death if not properly treated.
From Jan. 1 to July 13, the DOH recorded 1,258 cases of leptospirosis with 133 deaths.
The figure is 41 percent lower compared to the 2,150 cases recorded for the same period in 2023.
Six weeks before July 13, leptospirosis cases have been on a downtrend — from 175 cases (June 2 to 15, to 154 cases (June 16 to 29), to 111 cases (June 30 to July 13).
However, case counts may still rise due to late reports, and with recent enhanced southwest monsoon, the DOH said.
The regions with hikes in leptospirosis cases from June 2 to July 13 include Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. (PNA)
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