MANILA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Philippine health authorities have issued an alert on water-borne diseases after floods hit the northern Philippines, local media reported on Wednesday.
The local health center in the Ilocos region, northwest Philippines, has warned residents of rising health risks as enhanced southwest monsoon rains continue to trigger flooding across the region, according to the Manila Bulletin.
Residents were urged to guard against water-borne illnesses such as influenza, leptospirosis and dengue, which commonly spread during the rainy season, according to DOH Ilocos Regional Director Dr. Helen D. Tobias.
She warned that leptospirosis can be contracted through exposure to floodwater contaminated with animal urine, and advised those who wade through floods to wash exposed body parts with soap and clean water and seek medical attention. ■