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Second wave of leptospirosis in Camanava area feared

10/27/2009

Health authorities yesterday raised the possibility of a second wave of leptospirosis hitting the Camanava area (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela), which was also flooded as a result of heavy rains brought by typhoon “Ondoy.”

“There were few cases (of leptospirosis) in Camanava, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We cannot discount the possibility of a second wave (of the dreaded disease),” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told dzXL radio.

Duque further said they were closely monitoring the health developments in Laguna province, an area that was hard hit by Ondoy floods.

Camanava had few cases of leptospirosis and Laguna had 34.

But Duque expressed wonder why there were few cases in Laguna when many of its towns still remain flooded. One possible answer, he said, “is the brackishwater from Laguna Lake.” Brackishwater is a combination of saline water and freshwater.

Thus, Duque said that if their studies confirm that saltwater could eliminate the bacteria that cause leptospirosis, the Department of Health would like saline water loaded into fire trucks and use it to clean flooded areas.

“We will find out if it would be possible for fire engines to load as much saline water into their tanks. We can run the risk of water tanks getting rusts, which can easily be removed, in order to treat leptospirosis cases,” he said.

Citing official data, Duque said there were 2,089 leptospirosis cases recorded by his office. Of these, 162 died.

He noted, however, the decline in the number of leptospirosis cases admitted in the hospitals. “This means that leptospirosis cases have reached a tipping point as they are now on a decline,” he added.