DOH: Leptospirosis cases plateauing

MANILA, Philippines, August 12 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) said there is no need for additional leptospirosis “fast lanes” as cases of the water-borne disease are unlikely to rise in the coming days. “New cases of leptospirosis in different hospitals are seen to plateau each day. It’s not increasing anymore. It could even be decreasing,” Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo Domingo told a news briefing.

Domingo said the incubation period for leptospirosis ranges from two to 30 days, with cases usually increasing one to two weeks after heavy flooding. This explained the recent surge in leptospirosis cases at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine General Hospital and the San Lazaro Hospital, he said. Domingo said leptospirosis fast lanes are still operational, but there is no need to open more at the moment. “There could still be a few leptospirosis cases because we are still within the incubation period of about one month,” he said.

DOH data showed that 2,396 leptospirosis cases were recorded from June 8 to Aug. 7. To address the spike in leptospirosis cases, fast lanes were opened in 19 DOH hospitals last week.

Source: philstar.com