Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando on Tuesday, August 13, cautioned the Bulakenyos against Leptospirosis after five related deaths were reported in the province.

Two of the five deaths came from the City of San Jose del Monte, and one from each of the municipalities of Balagtas, Calumpit, and Obando.

Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro were requested by elders for a picture upon arriving in Barangay Paliwas, Obando, Bulacan on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, to distribute the 2,180 boxes of relief goods from DSWD for Typhoon "Carina" victims. (Freddie Velez)

According to the Provincial Health Office-Public Health (PHO-PH) advisory, from January 1 to August 10 of this year, 58 suspected Leptospirosis cases were logged in the whole province.

Although the cases were 3% lower compared to the data from the same time last year, the governor reminded the Bulakenyos to be extra careful especially now that all municipalities and cities of the province were recently affected by flooding caused by Typhoon Carina enhanced by the southwest monsoon.

“Dahil sa naranasan nating hagupit ng bagyo kamakailan, batid po ng inyong lingkod na karamihan sa atin ay hindi maiwasang lumusong sa baha. Ang atin na lamang po sanang hiling ay linisin po natin nang mabuti ang ating katawan matapos lumusong, at gayundin ang ating kapaligiran kung humupa na ang baha. Sa ganitong paraan ay maiiwasan natin na pamahayan ito ng daga na isa sa pinagmumulan ng sakit na ito,” (Due to the devastation of Typhoon we experienced recently, I know that most of us cannot avoid wading through the flood. My only request is to clean our bodies well after wading, likewise our surrounding when the flood subsides. In this way we can avoid being inhabited by rat which is one of the sources of this diseased)," the governor advised during the distribution of the 2,180 boxes of relief goods from DSWD for Typhoon "Carina" victims in Barangay Paliwas, Obando, Bulacan on Tuesday, August 13.

Meanwhile, the PHO-PH distributed a total of 57,000 capsules or 570 boxes of Doxycycline to cities, municipalities, and public hospitals as prophylaxis or preventive treatment for Leptospirosis.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include fever, aching muscles and head, aching legs, red eyes, and in severe cases, the urine may turn yellow, dark, and less in quantity.