DOH: No hospital bed shortage amid rising leptospirosis cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said there is no lack of hospital beds yet for confirmed and probable leptospirosis patients even as cases of the disease are on the rise weeks after the severe flooding in Luzon. 

DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that beds were almost at full capacity at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and San Lazaro Hospital in the past few days, but this was addressed eventually by referring patients to other hospitals. 

“Awa ng Diyos ay hindi pa naman nagkukulang [ang kama] ngunit nakikita natin na malapit mapuno o minsan lumalampas pero naagapan,” he said in an Unang Balita interview. 

(With God's mercy, we do not lack beds yet. We’ve observed that some hospitals were about to get filled with patients, but this was addressed eventually.) 

The DOH earlier ordered the activation of the surge capacity plan in hospitals under its supervision in the National Capital Region due to the increasing number of leptospirosis cases.

Under this, Domingo explained that more beds will be allocated by hospitals for leptospirosis cases so that they could accommodate the influx of patients. 

“Kung dati ang isang ospital, sabihin na nating sa 100 kama, 10 lang ang nakalaan para sa leptospirosis. ‘Pag sinabing surge capacity, dinadagdagan ‘yun, so hindi lang 10, magiging 20 na kama or more depende sa pangangailangan,” he said.

(Let’s say a hospital has 100 beds. Before, only 10 of those beds were allocated for leptospirosis cases, but under the surge capacity, the beds will be increased to 20 or even more depending on the necessity.) 

A total of 1,444 leptospirosis cases were recorded this year from January 1 to July 27. This was 42% lower compared to the 2,505 cases in the same period last year.

Sixty-seven cases were logged from July 14-27 but are likely to be only delayed reports, according to the DOH. 

The DOH on Sunday said doxycycline, which is used in treating leptospirosis, is readily available in the market and health centers, but added leptospirosis cases need to consult first with a doctor and obtain a prescription for the drug.

Doxycycline is prescribed both as a prophylaxis and treatment for leptospirosis. A price freeze is currently in effect for this drug until September 23.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted by animals such as rodents. Urine from infected rats could mix with floodwater during heavy rains and could therefore enter the human body of people wading through floods.

Its symptoms include fever, vomiting, nausea, muscle pain and headaches.

The incubation period of leptospirosis may range from two to 30 days, usually showing symptoms around one to two weeks after exposure to contaminated flood waters. —KBK, GMA Integrated News