With the continuous onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), cases of leptospirosis in the country are expected to rise as several communities remain submerged in floodwaters.
In a “24 Oras” report by Oscar Oida on Tuesday, leptospirosis survivor Jimmy Dunva warned the public about the dangers of wading and bathing in floodwater.
Dunva recalled suffering a severe case of the disease when he was rushed to the hospital for treatment, where doctors informed him that he had only a few days left to live.
“‘Di na po ako makalakad nung mga araw na ‘yon, kumbaga po namamanas na po yung mga paa ko,” Dunva recalled.
(I couldn’t walk during those days because my feet were already swollen.)
“Bale po, two days na lang po before nalaman na [leptospirosis] na po talaga ‘yung sakit ko, two days na lang mamamatay na daw ako kasi malubha na po talaga ‘yung [leptospirosis] ko nung time na ‘yon,” he added.
(It was just two days before they confirmed that my illness was actually leptospirosis. They said I only had two days to live because my condition was already that severe at the time.)
However, unlike other severe cases that ended in death, he survived his ordeal through dialysis.
Dunva recounted the grueling distress he experienced while fighting leptospirosis, particularly the terrifying uncertainty of not knowing how much longer he would live.
“May sinuguran po ako na baha na, ‘di ko namalayan na may sugat ako non nung time na ‘yon. Ang hirap po magkaroon ng [leptospirosis], kumbaga hindi mo alam kung mamamatay ka na o mabubuhay ka pa… akala ko talaga noon, mamamatay na po talaga ako,” Dunva said.
(I waded through a flooded area, unaware that I had a wound at the time. Having leptospirosis is extremely hard—you don’t know whether you’ll live or die. I honestly thought I was going to die back then.)
He shared that he cannot help but feel sad whenever he sees people bathing or swimming in floodwaters, as if they do not take the dangers of leptospirosis seriously.
“‘Pag nakakakita po ako sa mga balita po ng mga nakalusong pa sa baha na parang feel na feel pa po nila—na ‘di nila alam na ‘yun po ang magiging sanhi ng [pagkakaroon ng leptospirosis] po natin,” Dunva said.
(Whenever I see news reports of people wading through floodwaters seemingly enjoying themselves, it saddens me because they don’t realize that is exactly how you contract leptospirosis.)
Unlike Dunva, Villardo Villaranda Jr., a barangay councilor, did not survive leptospirosis. He fought the disease for barely three days before passing away.
In Oida’s report, relatives of the 50-year-old councilor expressed deep grief over his sudden death.
“Nag-complain siya sa akin na three days, ‘yung three days po na may symptoms na siya. Then after, pina-check up ko po siya two and a half days lang po ‘yung nilaban namin sa ospital, after noon nawala na po siya,” said Evelyin Lagan, Villaranda’s sister.
(He complained to me after experiencing symptoms for three days. I had him checked, but we only got to fight for two and a half days in the hospital before he passed away.)
Doctors suspect that the victim may have contracted leptospirosis while riding his motorcycle through flooded areas.
“Ang explanation sa amin ng doktor, kahit daw po hindi siya sumulong sa baha, ‘yun daw pong tubig na nasa kalsada pa rin kahit humupa na ito, naco-consider pa rin siya na part siya ng tubig baha na pumasok sa sapatos niya po,” Lagan recalled.
(The doctor explained to us that even if he didn’t directly wade through deep floods, the stagnant water left on the road after receding is still considered floodwater, which may have seeped into his shoes.)
Villaranda was also placed on dialysis, but the intervention came too late to save him.
“Nahirapan na po siyang huminga. Actually, tinapat naman na po kami ng doctor na severe na ‘yung case niya kasi lahat ng symptoms ng leptospirosis nag-manifest na po sa katawan niya,” Lagan added.
(He had difficulty breathing. Actually, the doctor was frank with us that his case was already severe because all the symptoms of leptospirosis had manifested in his body.)
According to the latest data from the Department of Health (DOH), there were 5,486 cases of leptospirosis recorded nationwide from January 4 to August 27.
The highest number of cases was recorded in NCR, Region 2, and Region 3.
These figures are expected to rise further, given that numerous areas were submerged in floodwaters during the heavy monsoon rains over the weekend.
The DOH stated that it has already deployed additional health professionals to hospitals that typically receive leptospirosis patients.
Authorities continue to remind the public never to take leptospirosis lightly and to seek immediate medical consultation upon experiencing symptoms after wading through floodwaters. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News
