Leptospirosis deaths in Oro, Iligan rise to 15

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

THE Health department said eight persons in Cagayan de Oro and seven in Iligan City died of leptospirosis while around 300 were confined in different hospitals as of Wednesday.

Several pharmacies in Cagayan de Oro City also declared a shortage of the generic brand of Doxycycline, a prophylactic medicine and antibiotic against leptospirosis.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The Department of Health (DOH) Northern Mindanao declared Monday an outbreak of leptospirosis in Cagayan de Oro after five persons died while more than 200 were infected.

It was spurred by flash floods that ravaged villages in the city due to Tropical Storm Sendong (international codename: Washi).

Dr. David Mendoza, head of the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit, said the increasing number of people infected with leptospirosis could be associated to complacency or indifference of the people to take the prescribed medicine.

Many flash floods victims received Doxycycline but did not take it. Doxycycline is always available in DOH and City Health Office clinics set up at the evacuation centers, Mendoza said.

“Many people, especially those living outside the evacuation centers, came only for food and relief goods, but not for medical consultations,” he said.

Meanwhile, some customers are suspecting that drugstores intentionally declared the generic brand of Doxycycline out of stock so they could sell branded ones.

Some costumers would prefer to buy the generic brand because it is much cheaper.

Flora Manzo said sales clerks offered her the branded one, which costs P69 per tablet, when she bought Doxycycline.

DOH information officer Emiliano Galban said they cannot act on this complain unless they have evidence of hoarding.

Galban said if there is proof of hoarding, the Food and Drugs Administration will intervene.

“Maybe, there is indeed a shortage of medicines since we already declared an outbreak and people now are more cautious. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

Galban also advised those suspected to be having leptospirosis to have themselves checked and confined in a hospital.

He also urged those who were soaked in flood waters to visit their health centers to avail of free medicines.

Leptospirosis is acquired not only from absorbing contaminated floodwaters through cuts in the skin but by swallowing the bacteria directly through food or water.

Although the disease is commonly associated with rat urine, infection can also come from cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

The disease’s wide range of symptoms begin with fever, chills, muscle pain, intense headache and may end up in meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice) and renal failure. Death may also occur. (Nicole J. Managbanag of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)