The number of leptospirosis cases has been decreasing, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, Sept. 19.
The DOH reported 1,726 cases from July 28 to Aug. 10, but the number decreased by 77 percent to 396 cases from Aug. 11 to 24.
The DOH noted that in the last one to two weeks, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, the number “has gone down” further to just 124.
However, the DOH clarified that this may “change due to incoming reports from the recent typhoon and inclement weather.”
As of Sept. 7, the DOH said a total of 4,575 cases were reported nationwide.
The DOH explained that this figure is 11 percent higher than the 4,112 cases reported in the same period last year.
“There are 393 deaths reported among the cases this year, which is 17 percent lower than the 475 deaths recorded during the same period last year,” the DOH added.
Meanwhile, the DOH noted that only three regions saw increasing cases in the past six weeks, including Central Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
DOH commends MMDA ordinance
The DOH views the decline in leptospirosis cases as an "opportunity" to reinforce warnings about the dangers of wading in floodwaters for leisure.
The DOH expressed gratitude to the Metro Manila Council for the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 24-003, s. 2024, which prohibits swimming, playing, gallivanting, and/or engaging in other leisurely or unsuitable activities in floodwaters.
DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said the Metro Manila Council’s regulation is a “proactive step in safeguarding public health.”
“However, early detection, timely medical intervention, and maintaining good hygiene are equally crucial and cannot be overlooked,” Herbosa said. “Let us work together to prevent the spread of this potentially fatal disease and ensure the health and safety of our communities,” he added.
Public reminder
While leptospirosis cases continue to decrease, the DOH reminded the public to “remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”
The DOH also advised the public to “maintain good hygiene, properly care for wounds, avoid contact with floodwaters as much as possible, wear protective footwear, and wash exposed skin to reduce the risk of infection from leptospirosis.”
Furthermore, the DOH reiterated the “urgent need for medical consultation once a person is exposed to floodwaters, even without symptoms.”
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/24/exposed-to-flood-waters-doh-recommends-immediate-consultation-treatment
Antibiotic prophylaxis is available for everyone at government health centers, the DOH added.
RELATED STORY: