QC keeps eye on leptospirosis

In anticipation of rainy days, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte directed the city’s health department to take measures to keep leptospirosis at bay.

She said the city health department is ready to address illnesses, including leptospirosis, that may peak during the rainy season.

This is aside from the strengthened awareness campaign, in which health centers have protocols in place to treat patients who have contracted leptospirosis.

City Health Officer Dr. Esperanza Arias said the city put up fever surveillance lanes in health centers to closely monitor cases of dengue, leptospirosis, viral illnesses and other febrile conditions.

“Our health centers will give free doxycycline and amoxicillin to patients. Referral to bigger hospitals is also in place to address those who would need a higher level of care,” Arias added.

The Quezon City Health Department has recorded 160 cases of leptospirosis with 21 deaths from 1 January to 17 August this year. This is a 62 percent drop from the 432 cases with 60 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

“This development can be attributed to the heightened advocacy campaign of the city. The regular and close monitoring of all notifiable disease being done by the City Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit, in partnership with the city’s sentinel hospitals, the Department of Health and all local health facilities, has enabled the city to know the status of these diseases and implement measures to address these accordingly,” Arias said.