DOH offers free medicines to prevent leptospirosis infections amid Karding flooding

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday urged all those who waded through Typhoon Karding floods to avail of the free medicines used to fight off leptospirosis infections.

The medications are available at health centers.

In a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they met with all their regional directors on Monday, directing them to assess and hand out prophylactic medicines to mitigate the leptospirosis cases in the country.

“Tandaan po natin, nakukuha natin ang leptospirosis, most common sa atin bansa, through the urine ng isang daga na maaaring nandoon siya sa basurahan, nagbaha, nakasama siya sa tubig baha. Kung kayo ay lumusong at meron kayong kaunting sugat sa inyong pangangatawan, maaari niyong makuha ang leptospirosis,” she said.

(We get leptospirosis through the urine of a rat that may be mixed with the flood water. If you waded through it and you have a small wound on your body, you can get leptospirosis.)

The latest data from the DOH showed the Philippines recorded 1,770 leptospirosis cases from January 1 to August 27, 2022. This was 36% higher than the cases logged in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said that no COVID-19 vaccines were damaged due to Karding, despite 21 health facilities reporting partial damage.

“These damages were just minor. Merong tumulo ang bubong, merong natuklap ang bubong, merong ibang parte ng mga facilities natin ay nabaha,” she said, stressing that there was no disruption in health services amid the storm.

(Some health facilities reported leaking ceilings, damaged roofs, and flooding.)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday that over 60,000 people or 16,000 families were affected by the onslaught of Karding in Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Eight people died in the typhoon. — DVM, GMA News