DOH on 'Code White' due to Carina, Habagat

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it has declared a Code White alert in all of its offices nationwide due to the inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

The DOH said the Code White alert was raised in Centers for Health Development in all regions, as well as the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The DOH usually declares the Code White alert during events or holidays “that can potentially cause mass casualty incidents or emergencies.”

With this, health units were tasked to conduct proactive monitoring and reporting of any untoward health incidents through the DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) integrated information system linked to the HEMB Operations Center.

Leptospirosis

The DOH also warned the public against leptospirosis that may be gotten from floodwaters.

As of July 13, a total of 1,258 leptospirosis cases were recorded in the country so far this year.

In the six weeks before July 13, DOH said leptospirosis cases were on a “downtrend” from 175 cases on June 2-15, to 154 cases on June 16-29. It further declined to 111 cases on June 30-July 13.

The DOH said these numbers may still rise due to late reports.

The following regions had increases in leptospirosis cases from June 2-July 13: Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.

A total of 133 deaths due to leptospirosis were also logged as of July 13.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by animals like rodents. Infected animal urine like those from infected rats could mix with flood water during heavy rains, and could therefore enter the human body of those wading through floods.

Its symptoms include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain, and headache. Some cases also experience distinct pain in the calf muscles and reddish eyes, while severe cases may have jaundice (yellowish body discoloration), dark-colored urine, light-colored stool, low urine output, and severe headache. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News