AFTER seeing a spike in leptospirosis cases due to the recent flooding caused by typhoons and monsoon rains, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said it is convinced the peak period is now over.
In a televised public briefing, DOH Spokesman Albert Domingo said: “We have passed the peak of the incubation period. We will not see more leptospirosis cases in the next few days.
“It has plateaued. It’s not increasing anymore. It could even be decreasing,” he added.
However, Domingo stressed that this does not mean that there will be no more leptospirosis cases to be recorded from the recent flooding.
“There could still be a few leptospirosis cases because we are still within the incubation period of about one month,” he said.
From June 8 to August 7, the DOH recorded a total of 2,396 leptospirosis cases nationwide.
This prompted the health department to open leptospirosis fast lanes over the weekend in 19 public hospitals.
“For faster consultation and treatment of flood victims, the Department of Health has opened Leptospirosis Fast Lanes in selected DOH hospitals,” said the DOH.
“This is where an assessment will be done to determine whether the patient needs to be admitted to the hospital or not,” it added.
The DOH hospitals include San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
