Manila: The Manila City Health Department (MHD) has expanded community outreach, free doxycycline distribution, and hospital capacity as leptospirosis cases in the capital reached the epidemic threshold. In a Radyo Pilipinas interview Wednesday, MHD officer-in-charge Grace Padilla said the city has recorded 1,094 cases, including 43 new infections.
According to Philippines News Agency, the surge followed widespread flooding in the city since August, prompting the MHD to deploy barangay health workers for house-to-house visits instead of waiting for residents to seek care at health centers. The city has distributed nearly 200,000 doses of prophylactic doxycycline through its 44 health centers and local hospitals. Padilla said the distribution may have helped prevent a further increase in cases.
City-run hospitals have also activated surge protocols and allocated an additional 10 percent of their beds for leptospirosis patients to ease pressure on emergency rooms. Severe cases are being treated primarily at Ospital ng Maynila and Santa Ana Hospital, where former Covid-19 wards have been converted into dedicated leptospirosis wards. The city has 20 dialysis units to manage severe complications, while health centers and emergency rooms have established leptospirosis fast lanes to speed up patient assessment and admission.
Padilla urged residents to avoid wading through floodwaters whenever possible and to seek medical attention and prophylactic treatment after exposure. "Sa 44 health centers po natin ay libre po yan at sa lahat ng city hospitals po natin ay binibigay natin siya ng libre (It is free in our 44 health centers and we give it away for free in all our city hospitals)," she said, referring to the free doxycycline available at the city's health centers and hospitals. She noted that free medical support and prophylactic antibiotics remain available, particularly for people considered at high risk or those who have waded through floodwaters.
For his part, Manila mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso assured Manile±os that the city government is monitoring the situation, as he called on the people, particularly those with symptoms, to visit health centers and hospital to get treatment. 'There is high infection rate in Baseco, Parola, Happyland, and Isla Puting Bato. If you have symptoms, immediately seek help and visit health centers or hospitals to get treatment,' he said in a live broadcast on social media.
The other government-run hospitals in the city include Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center, Ospital ng Tondo, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (formerly Ospital ng Sampaloc), and President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital.
