Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, December 21) — The Department of Health – Eastern Visayas (DOH-8) reported an increase in leptospirosis cases in Northern Samar, weeks after the province was hit by massive flooding.
DOH-8 regional information officer Jelyn Lopez-Malibago said that from just eight cases between January to the first week of December, the number of cases spiked to 22 in the second week of the month.
\”Hindi yan nakakabigla dahil nakaranas ng matinding pagbaha sa probinsya [This is not surprising because the province saw severe flooding] in the past weeks dahil sa masamang panahon [due to bad weather],\” she said Thursday.
Cases were reported in the towns of Catarman, Lope de Vega, Bobon, Rosario, Lavezares, Las Navas, and Catubig.
Lopez-Malibago said that the DOH already sent the province antibiotics to combat the illness as part of the agency’s post-disaster response.
There were no reported leptospirosis-linked deaths in the province, Lopez-Malibago said.
The DOH-8 said there were a total of 113 leptospirosis cases in the following Eastern Visayas provinces: Leyte (43), Eastern Samar (8), Northern Samar (22), Samar (35), Southern Leyte (2), Biliran (3).
Meanwhile, there were nine reported deaths due to leptospirosis: Leyte (1), Eastern Samar (1), and Samar (7).
To prevent further infection, the DOH advised people residing in flood prone areas to avoid contact with animal urine or body fluids, especially if they have cuts or abrasions on their skin.
