DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao City government is now on alert for leptospirosis cases after least three people were reported to have died after contracting the disease due to the flash floods that swept through five barangays last June 29.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), leptospirosis is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira interrogans. It infects people through contaminated animal urine that is usually transmitted through floodwaters. It can enter the body through lesions in the skin, eyes or mucous membranes.
One of the fatalities was identified as Alfredo Directo, 56, a resident of Samantha Homes in Matina Pangi. He reportedly swam across to a neighbor’s house at the height of the floods that had claimed 31 lives, mostly children.
Directo was reported to have suffered flu-like symptoms and vomiting before he succumbed to the ailment last week.
Southern Philippines Medical Center director Dr. Leopoldo Vega said two patients also died of leptospirosis in the hospital. The two were among 27 patients who were admitted to the hospital from July 6 to 17.
The two other fatalities were identified as Janel Montañez, 17, of Barangay Matina Pangi, and Rodel Francis Quete, 23, of Barangay Bangkal.
Although the other patients were already discharged and only eight were still admitted, Vega said he considered the cases to be a “sudden surge” which was due to the July 29 floods.
Vega said the other patients have recovered while the others have displayed diminished signs of leptospirosis.
City health officer Josephine Villafuerte said health workers have gone house to house to monitor leptospirosis cases and have given prophylactic treatment to those who had open wounds during the floods.