Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval on Tuesday, May 28, reminded the Malabueños to take precautionary measures against leptospirosis and dengue. 

Sandoval made the advice after typhoon “Aghon” hit the country the past weekend, which brought rains and floods in different cities. 

“Patuloy po tayong mag-iingat mula sa mga sakit lalo na ngayong nagkaroon ng Bagyong Aghon, lalo na po sa sakit na dengue at leptospirosis na siyang maaring makuha kapag may baha o may matubig na lugar. Panatilihin po nating malinis ang ating lugar upang makaiwas sa dengue at makipag-ugnayan sa ating pamahalaang lungsod kung kinakailangan ng tulong (Let's continue to be careful from diseases especially now that Typhoon Aghon had just hit us, particularly dengue and leptospirosis which can be contracted in flooded areas. Let's keep our area clean to avoid dengue and contact our city government if help is needed),” Mayor Sandoval said. 

According to the City Health Department (CHD), from January 1 to May 22 of this year,  they have already recorded five suspected cases of leptospirosis with one death. 

The CHD clarified that the reports were tagged only as suspect cases as the individuals experienced leptospirosis symptoms after walking on flooded streets. Still, the results of their tests were all negative for the disease.

The CPD said 281 dengue cases have been recorded with no deaths as of May 22. 

According to the Department of Health, leptospirosis is caused by leptospira bacteria spread in the urine of animals. An individual can get infected by the disease after getting water or soil contaminated by animal pee (urine) in his or her nose, mouth, your eyes, or wounds.

Common symptoms of include high fever, headache, chills, red eyes, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and skin rash.

Among the common symptoms of dengue are high fever (40°C/104°F), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and skin rash. 

Malabon City Health Department officer-in-charge Dr. Bernadette Bordador reminded the Malabueños to stay home during inclement weather or to wear boots and shoes in case they really have to walk on flooded streets to avoid getting infected by leptospirosis.

“Kung talagang hindi maiwasan ang paglusong sa baha, hugasan agad ang mga bahagi ng katawang nababad sa tubig-baha ng tubig at sabon. Huwag mag-atubiling lumapit sa pinakamalapit na health center upang makakuha ng gamot na panlaban sa leptospirosis.  At dahil ang mikrobyong nagdudulot ng leptospirosis ay pangkaraniwang nagmumula sa ihi ng daga, malaking tulong ang mapanatiling malinis ang kapaligiran upang hindi tirhan ng mga daga (If it is absolutely unavoidable to wade through flooded streets, immediately wash the parts of the body soaked in the flood water with soap and water. Do not hesitate to approach the nearest health center to get anti-leptospirosis medicine.  And since the germs that cause leptospirosis usually come from rat urine, it helps to keep the environment clean so that they don't live there),” Dr. Bordador said.

Meanwhile, the Malabon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) head  Roderick Tongol said that some streets in the city experienced about 6 inches of flood only for less than an hour, and no families were evacuated during heavy rains caused by Typhoon Aghon last Sunday, May 26.