Leptospirosis leaves 6 dead in Olongapo City
OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – At least six persons died from leptospirosis as 175 others were hospitalized two weeks after floods hit this city and the nearby towns.
Jesse Lewel Manuel, administrator of the James Gordon Memorial Hospital, said five of the fatalities were residents of this city while the other one is from Subic, Zambales.
Manuel said of the 175 leptospirosis patients, 117 were still being treated at the hospital while the others were sent home.
He said the hospital is running out of space for the rising number of patients who started to arrive on Saturday.
Some patients were placed along the corridors on beds provided by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
Mayor Rolen Paulino has asked the help of PRC chairman Richard Gordon and the Department of Health to address the growing number of leptospirosis cases in the city.
Paulino said the most number of leptospirosis cases came from Barangay Sta. Rita, which was badly hit by floods last month.
Manuel advised residents to get in touch with their health center or go to the hospital once get infected.
Local health department epidemiologist Jessie Fantone expressed belief that the patients ignored early symptoms, or resorted to self-medication believing they had influenza, instead of seeking professional help.
“One of the dead had ingested the bacteria while swimming through floodwaters, unlike the rest who caught it through skin exposure,†Fantone said.
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