CL flooding raises threat of dengue, leptospirosis

In an attempt to prevent the possible spread of dengue, leptospirosis, and other waterborne diseases after typhoon “Lando” spawned rains and floods in Central Luzon, the Department of Health Region 3 Office (DOH-3) stepped up its awareness campaign and distribution of medicines.

Dr. Jessie Fantone, DOH-3 Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit head, said medicines like doxycycline have been provided in all evacuation centers in the region to prevent, if not minimize, bacterial growth in the body, which when neglected could result even in death.

“Doxycycline helps control the bacteria that are entering our body. It is a prevention para hindi na lumala ang sakit,” said Fantone.

In Bulacan, Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Gomez said teams will be deployed to conduct spraying and larviciding after Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado rallied residents the past week to clean up the surroundings in destroy breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Angat Dam rising Despite the floods subsiding in inundated areas of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Pulilan, and Paombong, the water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan continued to rise yesterday.

Alvarado said recent hot days helped ease the effect of back flooding in Bulacan, although the water level at Angat slightly went up to 204.43 meters yesterday morning from 204.35 m the previous day.

The water level at Angat consistently rose since Saturday even if sunny weather was experiencedin Bulacan. The dam’s spilling level is 210 meters.

Meanwhile, the Ipo dam was at 99.95 m yesterday, close to its spilling level of 101.00, while Bustos Dam had a water level of 17.28, also quite near its spilling level of 17.70.