Leptospirosis surge
THE government, through the Department of Health (DOH), has expressed its readiness for the upsurge of leptospirosis cases in the country.
It issued the statement after noting the rising number of people afflicted with the dreaded disease, which is prevalent during the rainy season.
Reports said that leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria leptospira that can infect humans, dogs, rodents and other animals.
Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild and severe.
“You can be infected if you touch water, soil or other objects contaminated with the urine of an infected animal,” according to medical authorities.
The DOH has already activated its surge capacity plan, particularly in Metropolitan Manila, due to the increasing number of leptospirosis cases.
By activating the capacity plan, health authorities want to ensure that more beds will be available in hospitals for leptospirosis patients.
At the same time, DOH assured the public that doxycycline, which is used to treat leptospirosis, is free in government health centers.
And there is also enough supply of doxycycline in the market, according to DOH Spokesman and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.
The increasing number of leptospirosis cases in the country must cause great concern among the authorities and the people, especially the poor.
Let’s then come up with other precautionary measures to head off a possible surge in leptospirosis cases.
