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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 33 DOH hospitals activate fast lanes amid leptospirosis patients spike due to Habagat floods—Palace

33 DOH hospitals activate fast lanes amid leptospirosis patients spike due to Habagat floods—Palace

Published Aug 26, 2026 02:57 pm

At A Glance

  • Thirty-three Department of Health (DOH) hospitals have activated fast lanes for leptospirosis patients amid rising cases following recent flooding.
  • The hospitals are located in Metro Manila and four other regions in Luzon.
  • The DOH is coordinating patient referrals and expanding hospital capacity to manage the increase in cases.
The Department of Health (DOH) has expanded leptospirosis fast lanes from 27 to 49 hospitals nationwide to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, in line with President Marcos’ directive to improve responses to waterborne diseases during the rainy season. (Manila Bulletin / file photo)
The Department of Health (DOH) has expanded leptospirosis fast lanes from 27 to 49 hospitals nationwide to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment, in line with President Marcos’ directive to improve responses to waterborne diseases during the rainy season. (Manila Bulletin / file photo)

Malacañang said 33 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals have activated fast lanes for leptospirosis patients amid an increase in cases following recent flooding caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this following reports of a surge in leptospirosis patients at San Lazaro Hospital and other medical facilities in Metro Manila.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the hospitals with fast lanes are located in Metro Manila, Region I (Ilocos Region), Region II (Cagayan Valley), Region III (Central Luzon), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

She said the DOH was also implementing surge capacity management measures to ensure that sufficient hospital beds and medicines were available for patients requiring admission.

The DOH reported that there were 4,285 leptospirosis patients as of Aug. 22, a 25 percent increase from the 3,440 cases recorded from Jan. 4 to Aug. 8 this year.

It added that most of the cases were recorded in the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

Health Secretary Edwin Mercado convened a command conference with DOH hospitals to strengthen coordination and patient referrals among medical facilities.

The DOH Operations Center was also coordinating with San Lazaro Hospital to refer patients to other hospitals in Metro Manila to help ease congestion.

Castro said all DOH hospitals, health centers, and YAKAP clinics were ready to accommodate individuals seeking medical consultation after exposure to floodwaters.

The government has been strengthening its response as health facilities deal with increased demand for leptospirosis-related care following the flooding.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be contracted through exposure to water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, making people who wade through floodwaters particularly vulnerable.

Castro said Malacañang would provide further updates on hospitals that could accommodate leptospirosis patients and on measures to manage cases should infections continue to rise, based on the outcome of the DOH meeting.

Related Tags

Claire Castro DOH DOH hospitals Leptospirosis HABAGAT
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