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The San Lazaro Hospital in Manila is operating at 300% to 500% of its emergency room capacity amid a surge in leptospirosis cases following flooding caused by continuous rains from the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
Dr. David Suplico, San Lazaro Hospital medical center chief, raised the alarm over the rise in leptospirosis cases, saying the hospital is nearing full capacity, according to Darlene Cay’s report on “Unang Balita” on Monday.
“Currently, many leptospirosis patients are waiting in our express lane. Our emergency room is now operating at around 300% to 500% of its capacity,” Suplico said.
There are currently 87 leptospirosis patients at San Lazaro Hospital, 26 of whom are in severe condition, including those experiencing difficulty breathing and requiring dialysis.
Three leptospirosis patients have also died from Aug. 19 to 22.
“This is somewhat alarming. Usually, the incubation period of leptospirosis is between two and 30 days,” he said.
“We usually see the peak of leptospirosis within two weeks after exposure. That would be two weeks from Aug. 17. What we are seeing now is a continued increase in admissions,” he added.
San Lazaro Hospital is also bracing for more patients in the coming days.
On Sunday, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City temporarily limited the admission of walk-in patients after reaching full bed capacity due to a surge in leptospirosis cases.
Patients who need non-emergency admission were advised to coordinate with their attending physicians and consider other healthcare facilities with available beds to avoid prolonged waiting times.
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria spread through the urine of infected animals, particularly rats, and can affect both humans and animals.
The Department of Health (DOH) has urged the public to consult a doctor before taking any medication for suspected leptospirosis.
On Sunday, the DOH said hospitals facing capacity concerns may coordinate with the Health Emergency Management Bureau’s operations center for patient navigation through the Leptospirosis Bed Tracker System.
The DOH also assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation.— MCG, GMA News
