MANILA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday warned of increased leptospirosis risk from widespread flooding, assuring that its facilities and medicine supplies are sufficient.
According to the DOH, more than 3,000 leptospirosis cases have been reported nationwide in the past eight months. The public was urged to avoid wading in floodwaters and seek immediate medical help if experiencing fever, headache, or muscle pain.
The San Lazaro Hospital in Manila said on Wednesday that it now has more than 20 leptospirosis cases, three of them severe, and expects the number to grow amid the floods caused by heavy rains in the metropolis, local media reported.
Around 3.1 million doxycycline capsules are on standby nationwide, with a Code White Alert raised in affected areas, according to the DOH. ■