Leptospirosis outbreak due to massive flooding in the Philippines kills 89
Philippines, Oct 16, 2009
A leptospirosis outbreak has been declared in three villages in the Philippines' Marikina City, the Department of Health (DoH) reported on Friday (October 16). The Manila Times reported the number of Metro Manila cases surging to up to 1,027, including 89 deaths. Quezon City tallied the most cases in the capital region with 122, followed by Marikina with 82. In just four days, Filipino health authorities were alarmed by the rapid increase in leptospirosis cases, especially in Metro Manila. On Monday (October 12), there were only 140 cases in Metro Manila, but on Wednesday (October 14), the number of cases had jumped to 700, the Manila Times reported health secretary Francisco Duque III as saying. Duque was quoted as saying, "We have declared an outbreak there, but by outbreak, we do not necessarily mean that we have a big number of cases. We can declare an outbreak if previously, the place had no case of the disease, then suddenly, several cases were reported." The country's health department convened its Task Force Ondoy on Friday and resolved to provide prophylaxis to 1.3 million people to areas where people were most at risk of contracting the spreading disease. Compounding the situation was that floodwaters in some parts of the worst affected areas were not expected to recede until December, the Manila Times said. Since Typhoon Ketsana and Parma wrecked havoc on the Philippines late last month, stagnant flood waters have posed a serious health threat to Filipino communities. Some of the worst-hit villages and town remain submerged in floodwaters, which serve as the main vehicle for the disease-causing bacteria to enter through human skin. About US$646,946 (PHP30.4 million) is being allocated from the health department, where half of the money would go towards health needs of 760 projected complicated cases, while the other half would go towards the needs of the projected 3,040 uncomplicated ones, the Manila Times said. Duque added that 19 private hospitals would admit leptospirosis incidents if the 12 health department-run hospitals and those operated by the local governments could not accommodate an influx of patients. According to Xinhua, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the health department to activate more health teams and expand its rural service program to involve more health workers that can help control the spreading outbreak. The Philippines has endured back-to-back storms over the past two weeks that have caused massive flooding, landslides and a death toll of nearly 650 people among affecting some 6.5 million people in the northern region. During UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes two-day visit to Manila, he announced at a press briefing that outbreaks of disease was now a major concern due to stagnant water being a breeding ground for malaria, dengue fever and bacterial diseases such as leptospirosis, skin infections and diarrhea, Xinhua and BBC News reported. Holmes emphasized the need to eliminate stagnant waters rather than waiting for them to evaporate. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by the exposure to water contaminated with urine of infected animals such as rats, pigs, horses and dogs. The disease is communicable between humans and symptoms may suddenly appear as soon as four days after exposure. Common symptoms are flu-like and include fever, a red skin rash, weakness, headaches, reaction to light, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and fatigue. Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy of the Health department's emerging and reemerging infectious diseases advised people to be vigilant and to remain calm, the Manila Times reported.
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