DOH Sec. Teodoro Herbosa —Malacañang photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) issued a public health advisory on Monday against leptospirosis following the expected flooding due to Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi).
The DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa warned to not wade through floodwaters as much as anyone can.
“Madumi ang tubig baha. Iwasan hanggat kaya. Hugasan ang katawan ng tubig at sabon pagkaahon. Anuman ang dahilan, basta napalusong, kahit walang sugat o nararamdaman, kumonsulta agad sa doktor o health center sa loob ng 1-2 araw (Floodwaters are dirty. Avoid it as much as possible. Rinse the body with water and soap after wading through it. Whatever the reason is, if anyone wades through it even if there are no wounds, consult the doctor or health center within one to two days.),” Herbosa said in a statement.
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According to the health department, there had been a spike in leptospirosis cases after the flooding caused by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon-induced rains.
READ: EXPLAINER Leptospirosis kills, how to avoid it
A total of 3,785 cases have been recorded nationwide as of August 17, five percent higher than the recorded 3,605 cases of the same period last year.
Meanwhile, DOH said that 1,184 cases were logged from July 21 to August 3 at the height of Carina and monsoon-induced floods.
However, while there had been a decrease in cases from August 4-17 with 699 cases, the health agency’s epidemiologists warned that “without proper precautions like prophylaxis, the number of cases will most likely go up again due to floods brought by T.S Enteng.”
Free consultations
Herbosa noted free consultations in government health centers and precautionary measures to take against leptospirosis.
“Mayroon pa ring antibiotic prophylaxis (pag-iwas), at libre ang konsulta at reseta sa government health center. Naka price-freeze pa rin ang mga gamot kasama ang Doxycycline sa mga lugar na tinamaan noon ng bagyong Carina, hanggang September 23. Kumonsulta po tayo (There is still antibiotic prophylaxis, and it is free to consult and ask for prescriptions in government health centers. Medicines, including Doxycycline, are still in price freeze in areas affected by Typhoon Carina until September 23. Let’s consult the doctors.),” he added.
As of 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said that the center of the tropical storm was located at the coastal waters of Paoay, Ilocos Norte moving northwestward with a speed of 25 kilometers per hour (km/h). It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h with gustiness of up to 125 km/h.