Nineteen Department of Health hospitals in the National Capital Region have opened “fast lanes” specifically for leptospirosis cases, DOH said yesterday.
In a radio interview, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said the number of leptospirosis cases may still rise in the coming days.
He said it has only been two weeks since the series of tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” caused heavy rains in several parts of the country, forcing many to wade through floods.
“The incubation period of leptospirosis is one to two weeks. So the number of cases may still go up. We hope that won’t happen,” he said.
In a social media post, DOH said the fast lanes would be used to evaluate whether a patient requires hospital admission.
“Here, they will also assess the patient’s risk level to provide a prescription for the appropriate use of Doxycycline,” the department said.
Critical cases of leptospirosis may result in kidney damage, liver failure, respiratory distress, or death if untreated.
Leptospirosis Fast Lanes are open in the following hospitals: San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital, East Avenue Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Valenzuela Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Rizal Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
From July 13 to August 6, 1,272 cases were documented across the Philippines following three tropical cyclones.
