Medical professionals attend to patients at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City on Monday, August 24, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Those who have been exposed to flood waters should seek medical consultation within 72 hours, instead of waiting for symptoms of leptospirosis to appear.
This was the advice made by the Department of Health amid continuous rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or Habagat.
“Kasi yung pag nagkasimptomas ka na, after ng 5 to 15 days, nalalabas yung simtomas too late na yun,” DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa said, stressing the importance of taking preventive antibiotics after flood exposure to prevent the onset of leptospirosis.
“‘Yung sinasabing 24 to 72 hours na lumusong sila or na-expose sa contaminated na water, baha or kung ano man, is kailangan magpakonsulta na sa pinakamalapit na health center o kaya YAKAP clinic. Huwag nilang hintayin na magkasimptomas,” Balboa said.
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Balboa added that prophylaxis, or preventive care, is crucial to halting the disease.
“So bago magkaroon ng simptomas, meron tayong kasing sinasabing yung prophylaxis nga na doxycycline para mabigyan sila depending nga dun sa kanilang risk of exposure.”
Prevention becomes even more crucial as leptospirosis cases in 2026 reached 5,835 from January to August, with cases most prevalent in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon.
From August 18 to 26 alone, the DOH recorded 1,171 cases in Metro Manila, prompting some hospitals to operate at full capacity.
One of them is San Lazaro Hospital, which was treating to 133 leptospirosis patients as of Sunday, August 30.
Among those in the emergency room was a 32-year-old woman who said that she did not wade through the floods. However, because she had to continue working amid heavy rains, she could not avoid being splashed by floodwaters.
“Hindi po ako lumulusong, iniiwasan ko po pero hindi ko po maiwasan kasi may trabaho po ako. Pagpasok ko umuulan, paguwi ko umuulan pa rin,” she told ABS-CBN News.
Despite experiencing a high fever and other symptoms of leptospirosis on Friday, she still went to work to earn money for her four children, who depend solely on her.
"Masakit po yung ulo, yung binti, at yung mga buto buto ko nilalagnat din po ako… eh no work no pay po kami sa mga agency. Kailangan ko po pumasok kasi wala po akong sahod pagka hindi po ako sumahod," she added.
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The DOH also reported that 29 percent of leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila are pediatric cases, prompting authorities to remind parents not to let children play in floodwaters.
"So panawagan sa ating mga magulang na sana yung ating mga anak ay mabantayan natin at masabihan na huwag silang maglaro, lumusong, mga iba pa nga naliligo sa tubig baha… So yun yung pakiusap natin kasi kailangan natin pagtulungan ito. Yung tayo mismo na nag-observe ng mga precautionary measures and then siyempre andyan naman yung ating tulong din from the local governments," said Balboa.
A veterinarian also warned that pets can acquire leptospirosis and potentially transmit the disease to humans.
“So lalo na yung mga animals or yung mga alaga natin sa bahay na nagkaroon ng contact outdoor….kasi syempre, zoonotic na disease ito eh. So, ibig sabihin na itatransmit ito mula doon sa hayop papunta sa atin ng mga tao. At deadly siya, hindi lang sa animals pero kahit sa tao, diba?” Dr. Zarah Rosuello said in a DZMM interview.
“So ang pinaka-importante na gagawin natin kung meron tayong mga alagang aso at pusa ay huwag natin silang pabayaan na lumabas ng ating bahay lalo na ngayong tag-ulan,” she added.
The DOH reported 358 deaths related to leptospirosis from January to August 2026, lower than last year’s recorded deaths of 764 in the same period.
Despite the decline, health authorities urged the public not to be complacent, as habagat-induced rains and flooding are expected to continue in the coming months.