DOH: Northern Samar logs steep rise in leptospirosis

TACLOBAN CITY—Cases of leptospirosis in Northern Samar have tripled barely a month after the massive flooding that hit the province last month, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported

Records of the DOH surveillance and epidemiology unit in Eastern Visayas showed that cases of the disease caused by bacteria from the urine of rodents have increased from only seven last year to 22 in 2023.

Jelyn Lopez-Malibago, the DOH regional information officer, said the sudden increase in cases was recorded in December this year, or a month after Northern Samar experienced its worst flooding in five decades, which occurred between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22 following heavy rains.

“The increase of leptospirosis cases in Northern Samar could be attributed to the massive flooding experienced by the province last November,” she said in an interview on Wednesday.

The DOH advised residents to use rubber boots when going through flooded areas, observe proper hygiene and visit their nearest health facilities when they experienced symptoms of the disease.

Among the initial symptoms of leptospirosis are fever, severe headache, sore muscles, chills, vomiting and red eyes.

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Some people infected with the bacteria later develop serious diseases like kidney failure, jaundice and respiratory complications, among others.

Symptoms usually develop after 5 to 14 days following the infection and would last from a few days to three weeks or longer, the DOH said.The 22 cases of leptospirosis in the province were reported in the towns of Lope de Vega, Laoang and Bobon with three cases each; Rosario, Lavezares, Las Navas and Catubig with one case each.

The provincial capital of Catarman, considered the worst-hit area during last month’s flooding, reported nine cases of leptospirosis. Last year, Catarman only had two cases of the bacterial disease.Eastern Visayas logged a total of 113 cases of leptospirosis from Jan. 1 to Dec. 19, 2023. At least nine persons died over the same period due to the ailment, the DOH-Eastern Visayas data showed. INQ