Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa wants the cooperation of Metro Manila local governments to address leptospirosis cases in the metropolis.
The official said leptospirosis cases are exacerbated by the poor waste management that results in increased rat population — the vector of the disease.
“So, when solid waste management is poor, the rodent population numbers increase. When the rodent population numbers increased, leptospirosis cases will increase,” Secretary Herbosa said during the Malacañang Insider program aired on Friday.
“So, if we control the rodents, we should be able to control this as a public health endeavor.”
“Maybe, one of the things I’ll plan to do is actually to go to the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), Metro Manila Council and really talk to them about this problem of lepto because we cannot be keeping doing the same thing and warning and not do something significant,” he added.
The Philippines has high leptospirosis cases along with India, the DOH chief said, stressing that local cases can be managed through proper waste disposal.
“We should be able to control this. We are a city below sea level so it’s always flooded but if we keep our solid waste management and rodent population low, I shouldn’t be having this upsurge of leptospirosis cases a week after or two weeks after floods,” he noted.
The DOH secretary also highlighted the importance of health literacy and enforcement, noting “it’s very important to educate kids not to swim in flood waters” to avoid contracting diseases.
Also, local officials should start enforcing regulations to make people stay at home during floods, thus preventing them from getting leptospirosis.
He reported that the Philippine General Hospital is experiencing a surge of cases. The difficult thing about leptospirosis outbreak is that patients need critical care, he said.
Handling patients requires high-level personnel, dialysis for the disease’s renal effects, and antibiotics.
“So, it’s labor-intensive – meaning nurses, critical care and everything,” he said.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disorder of animals and humans that can easily be transmitted from infected animals through their urine, either directly or through infected soil or water.
Without treatment, leptospirosis in people can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, trouble breathing, and even death. PND
