Flu, leptospirosis rise with surge in dengue cases – Manila health chief

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA — Apparently, it’s not just dengue. It’s the others, too.

The city government of Manila warned on Thursday of higher risks of infections from waterborne diseases, this after the Department of Health warned that dengue cases have increased 36 percent nationwide.

Dr. Benjamin Yson, chief of the Manila Health Department, said the “upsurge” of diseases not just of dengue, but also of leptospiroris, and influenza was, after all, “common” during the rainy season.

“So what we’ve been doing is continuous and extensive information campaign in every barangay, teaching how not to get infected with these diseases,” he said.

According to the city official, for instance, flooding speeds up the spread of dengue virus and leptospirosis.

In the case of dengue, he said floodwaters become the “breeding sites” for mosquitoes, while they become “the vehicle for transmission of bacteria from rodents, dogs, and other mammals” in the case of leptospirosis.

While Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he did not want anyone to get sick, but he said the city’s six public hospitals and 59 community health centers, would be “ready to provide free, prompt, and quality healthcare services to anyone who needs it.”

“Year round, we’ve been continually improving the readiness of our city hospitals to respond to any medical emergencies. Our medicines are complete,” the mayor said.

Yson said the city government has been religious in its declogging projects and other infrastructure to improve the drainage system.

“…So basically, with these interventions, we can expect less cases of these diseases this rainy season,” Yson said.  SFM