MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday declared an outbreak of leptospirosis cases in 10 more barangays in Metro Manila, bringing to 28 the total number of affected villages to 28.
But despite this, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III told The STAR that the number of new infections was already decreasing.
“Caloocan is the latest city with leptospirosis outbreak so from seven cities, there are now eight cities affected. However, we observed that the number of cases already went down based on Morbidity Week Report No. 27,” he said.
Last Thursday, Duque declared outbreaks in several barangays in Quezon City, Taguig, Pasig, Parañaque, Navotas, Mandaluyong and Malabon after these villages breached the five-year average of cases for Metro Manila.
Duque noted that based on the report, there were almost 50 cases documented from June 30 to July 5. But the week prior to this, the DOH had recorded more than 200 cases.
“Hopefully we can sustain this and we can do that only by remaining vigilant against leptospirosis,” he added.
Duque said the decrease may be due to the minimal rains experienced in the metropolis in the past days and that “our local government leaders are now doing garbage collection regularly.”
Data shows from Jan. 1 to June 23, there were 1,085 leptospirosis cases and this 35 percent higher compared to the same period in 2017.
In Metro Manila, the DOH recorded a total of 454 cases, including 58 deaths, as of July 5.
Leptospirosis is contracted through exposure to floodwaters contaminated with the urine of rats infected by the Leptospira bacteria.