DOH on red alert as leptospirosis surge begins

The Department of Health (DOH) is on red alert due to a potential surge in leptospirosis cases following heavy rains and floods, with a nephrologist stating the surge has already begun.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) has logged 20 leptospirosis cases, and San Lazaro Hospital is treating 41 infectious patients, 37 of whom were admitted on Sunday.

Among the 41 patients at San Lazaro Hospital, 14 are minors aged 13 to 18 years old.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through contact with infected animal urine or contaminated environments like floodwater, with risk increasing after floods or heavy rain.

Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body pain, and eye redness, and untreated cases can lead to organ failure.

The DOH advises individuals with symptoms to go to the nearest health facility and to get a doctor's prescription before taking doxycycline, an antibiotic for the infection.