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The peak of the leptospirosis surge is expected by August 31, San Lazaro Hospital Medical Center Chief Dr. David Suplico said Tuesday.
In a “24 Oras” report by Mariz Umali, Suplico estimated this surge peak by considering the bacteria’s incubation period.
“Hindi pa ito [ang] peak ng leptospirosis, kasi tinitignan namin na ang incubation period ng leptospirosis is between two days up to 30 days. Nakikita namin na magpi-peak ang leptospirosis surge is August 31.” Suplico said.
(This is not yet the peak of leptospirosis, because we are looking at an incubation period between two days up to 30 days. We anticipate that the leptospirosis surge will peak on August 31.)
San Lazaro Hospital in Manila has recorded 135 admitted leptospirosis cases, surpassing the 131 patients reported during the same period last year.
“This is 15 patients more from our reserved beds intended for leptospirosis,” Suplico added.
Due to the hospital’s limited capacity to accommodate additional cases, some patients are now resting on cot beds or folding chairs.
Six people have died at the hospital due to leptospirosis since August 10.
According to Suplico, patients with severe forms of the disease face a high mortality rate, though it could have been treated more effectively with early detection and treatment.
“Ang mga leptospirosis na in severe form, meron po silang 50% mortality rate,” Suplico said.
(Those with severe forms of leptospirosis face a 50% mortality rate.)
“‘Yun ‘yung aming panawagan sa kanila dahil… ang leptospirosis ay isang simpleng bacteria kaya po natin siyang gamutin ng antibiotic,” he added.
(That is our plea to them because… leptospirosis is caused by a simple bacteria, so we can treat it with antibiotics.)
At the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City, leptospirosis cases have reached 48 on Tuesday morning.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is prepared for a further rise in leptospirosis cases.
As of August 22, nationwide leptospirosis cases stood at 4,285. This is 37% lower compared to the 6,839 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.
The DOH said it is strengthening its referral system to prevent patients from overwhelming a single hospital.
“Kami rin ay nakikipag-usap sa mga pribadong ospital na kapag talagang may surge ay gamitin ‘yung kanilang supposedly 10 to 15 percent na no-balance-bill bed,” DOH Secretary Edwin Mercado said.
(We are also in talks with private hospitals so that during a severe surge, they can utilize their 10 to 15 percent allocation for ‘no balance billing’ beds.)
“Mayroon tayong 3.1 million capsules [doxycycline] na available,” he said.
(We have 3.1 million capsules of doxycycline available.)
Meanwhile, Malacañang reiterated a statement from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), highlighting coordination with the NKTI.
“Nagkaroon po ang PGH na statement na sila po ay tutulong kung kinakapos po talaga ng espasyo or bed capacity ang NKTI,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
(PGH issued a statement saying they are ready to help if NKTI runs out of space or bed capacity.)
“Nandiyan po ang PGH—kung may mga pasyente na hindi naman nagsa-suffer ng leptospirosis, maaari naman silang lumipat sa PGH,” she added.
(If there are patients who are not suffering from leptospirosis, they can be transferred to PGH instead.) —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News
