UCAN REPORT:
Leptospirosis a major worry as death toll nears 100
Flood victims in temporary shelter in a Manila church. (Photo by Joe Torres)
Authorities warned today that flood-devastated communities are now at serious risk from water-borne diseases. The warning was issued as the death toll from flooding that ravaged Metro Manila and surrounding provinces last week rose to almost 100.
The Department of Health is distributing water purification tablets and conducting mass immunization programs to guard against flu, cholera and other diseases. The Philippine Red Cross says sanitation has become “a major problem” as floodwaters recede.
An outbreak of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease caused by exposure to water contaminated by rat urine, is a major concern.
According to government figures, more than 3,300 people were infected and 249 died of the disease following the floods of 2009.
Health officials said the number of leptospirosis victims shot up in January after Typhoon Sendong inundated northern Mindanao.
Doctors say leptospirosis symptoms appear two to 25 days after initial exposure to the urine or tissue of an infected animal. Leptospira bacteria attacks the kidneys, liver or lungs.
Jesus Banate, a 34-year-old driver, has fallen victim to leptospirosis in the latest flooding. He is suffering severe stomach pains, dizziness and nausea.
“Our place is flood-prone. We couldn’t escape from it. There was no choice but to go through it,” Banate told ucanews.com from
his hospital bed in Manila.
In another case, a 62-year-old man died from the disease at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
“He arrived at the hospital at a very late stage,” said Dr. Armand Labitag.
Around 3.45 million have been affected by the flooding with more than 410,729 people still living in evacuation centers, according to official estimates.
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The Department of Health is distributing water purification tablets and conducting mass immunization programs to guard against flu, cholera and other diseases. The Philippine Red Cross says sanitation has become “a major problem” as floodwaters recede.
An outbreak of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease caused by exposure to water contaminated by rat urine, is a major concern.
According to government figures, more than 3,300 people were infected and 249 died of the disease following the floods of 2009.
Health officials said the number of leptospirosis victims shot up in January after Typhoon Sendong inundated northern Mindanao.
Doctors say leptospirosis symptoms appear two to 25 days after initial exposure to the urine or tissue of an infected animal. Leptospira bacteria attacks the kidneys, liver or lungs.
Jesus Banate, a 34-year-old driver, has fallen victim to leptospirosis in the latest flooding. He is suffering severe stomach pains, dizziness and nausea.
“Our place is flood-prone. We couldn’t escape from it. There was no choice but to go through it,” Banate told ucanews.com from
his hospital bed in Manila.
In another case, a 62-year-old man died from the disease at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
“He arrived at the hospital at a very late stage,” said Dr. Armand Labitag.
Around 3.45 million have been affected by the flooding with more than 410,729 people still living in evacuation centers, according to official estimates.
SHARED FROM UCAN NEWS
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