MANILA Health Department chief Dr. Grace Padilla announced the activation of a ward at the Sta. Ana Hospital, located in the city’s sixth district, that would exclusively handle leptospirosis cases, as she expressed alarm over the high number of deaths and individuals recently suffering from it.
It was learned that based on latest statistics, a total of 18 persons have already died in the city due to leptospirosis while many more are currently confined with severe symptoms, some even already undergoing dialysis.
Padilla lamented that a lot of the patients go to the hospitals for treatment at quite a late stage already.
She thus advised the public to avoid wading in floodwaters and if they did so because they had no choice, for them to immediately seek help from the city’s health centers so they could be given prophylaxis and avoid being part of the statistics on leptospirosis cases.
Padilla said that the prophylaxis is being given for free and that those who wade in floodwaters must take it especially those who have wounds in their foot area.
The Ospital ng Maynila (OM) meanwhile, announced that its emergency room is now over its capacity. A total of 140 leptospirosis cases have been admitted there so far.
Padilla asked for the public’s understanding, since the bed capacity in the OM is limited and cannot cope with the deluge of patients lately, particularly those suffering from leptospirosis.
She said that the patients may opt to be transferred to other city hospitals through a referral to be issued by the OM.
