Manila leptospirosis cases reach ‘epidemic’ levels – health officer

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Manila is now considering the leptospirosis situation in the city an “epidemic” due to a rise in reported cases, the city’s health officer said on Monday.

A statement from the Manila Public Information Office showed that the city’s health office observed that leptospirosis cases had already surpassed the city’s “epidemiologic threshold,” as incidence rose to 3.48% from 1.27% the previous week, indicating a rapid increase in cases over a short period.

This prompted Manila OIC-City Health Officer Dr. Grace Padilla to state that the spread of leptospirosis is already in an “epidemic condition.”

She reported that several city government district hospitals, including Ospital ng Maynila, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, had reached full capacity because of the increase in patients.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso directed local government agencies to intensify their campaign against leptospirosis, including an aggressive public information campaign to inform residents that free doxycycline capsules are available at all 44 health centers and seven district hospitals operated by the city government.

Domagoso said it would be better for the city government, through the Manila Health Department and the 896 barangays, “to go directly to residents and distribute doxycycline to those affected by flooding in recent weeks.” /mcm