Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso has directed the full activation of the city’s leptospirosis surge protocol across all six city-run hospitals following days of intense flooding brought by the Southwest Monsoon and three successive typhoons—Crising, Dante, and Emong.
Domagoso directed Manila OIC-City Health Officer Dr. Grace Padilla to ensure all city hospitals are ready to handle a possible spike in leptospirosis cases, a deadly waterborne disease that often spreads after widespread flooding.
Dr. Padilla said some leptospirosis cases are being transferred from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center to the Manila Infectious Disease Control Center at the Sta. Ana Hospital due to the spike in cases.
Many areas in the National Capital Region, particularly the City of Manila, suffered from waist-deep floods in late July.
As part of the directive, the Mayor ordered the immediate activation of leptospirosis fast lanes at the emergency rooms of Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sta. Ana, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, and Justice Abad Santos General Hospital.
These fast lanes are intended to triage, diagnose, and initiate treatment for suspected leptospirosis patients without delay.
Domagoso also directed the six city hospital directors to allot dedicated beds and establish special leptospirosis wards to contain and manage confirmed cases.
“Early detection and early treatment can save lives. We cannot afford delays,” the Mayor said in his directive to the Manila Health Department (MHD).
To support aggressive treatment efforts, the Mayor likewise instructed the MHD to ensure the availability of essential medicines for leptospirosis, including doxycycline, and that intrajugular (IJ) insertion procedures be made available.
Furthermore, dialysis units have been ordered to maintain full operational status with adequate supplies, in anticipation of acute kidney injuries that can arise from advanced leptospirosis cases.
