MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross has deployed medical personnel to San Lazaro Hospital as a sharp rise in leptospirosis patients following recent flooding pushes one of Metro Manila’s key infectious-disease hospitals beyond its normal capacity.
The Philippine Red Cross sent 17 medical and support personnel to San Lazaro Hospital on Tuesday, August 25, after the hospital sought additional manpower amid the growing number of patients being treated for the potentially deadly bacterial infection. The deployed team includes six nurses, six student nurses, three administrative support volunteers, and two Medical Corps Volunteers–Nursing Team staff.
According to Bombo Radyo, San Lazaro had recorded 139 leptospirosis patients by Tuesday morning, prompting the Red Cross deployment. The volunteers are assisting hospital personnel with monitoring vital signs, tracking patients’ fluid intake and output, and coordinating laboratory tests.
The figure reflects a rapidly changing situation. Earlier Tuesday, RMN reported that San Lazaro Medical Center Chief Dr. David Suplico had placed the number of admitted leptospirosis patients at 135 as of around 7 a.m., including 31 new cases since the previous day. He said the hospital had already exceeded its designated 120-bed capacity for leptospirosis patients, while its 10-bed emergency-room allocation was also full.
From 22 Patients to More Than 130 in Less Than a Week
The speed of the increase has become one of the most alarming aspects of the current outbreak.
On August 19, San Lazaro Hospital was treating only 22 leptospirosis patients, according to an earlier report. By August 22, News5 reported around 50 patients at the hospital. By August 24, separate reports said the hospital was dealing with dozens more patients and severe overcrowding in its emergency facilities.
At least three leptospirosis patients died at San Lazaro between August 10 and August 22, according to hospital figures reported by Philippine media. Nineteen of the 60 patients confined as of August 22 were classified as severe cases.
The surge comes after weeks of heavy monsoon rains and widespread flooding exposed thousands of residents to potentially contaminated floodwater.
DOH Activates Leptospirosis Fast Lanes
The Department of Health has intensified preparations as officials warn that the full impact of recent flood exposure may not yet be visible in current case numbers.
Health Secretary Edwin Mercado inspected San Lazaro Hospital and confirmed that a dedicated Leptospirosis Express Lane had been activated to speed up assessment and treatment. The hospital has also prepared rapid diagnostic tests, antibiotics, hemodialysis facilities and additional surge-capacity beds for moderate and severe patients.
The DOH has expanded leptospirosis fast lanes to 33 government hospitals in Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions I, II and III as authorities attempt to distribute patients more efficiently and prevent individual hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
As of August 22, DOH figures cited in local reporting placed the nationwide total at approximately 4,285 leptospirosis cases. Although the cumulative figure remained below the level recorded during the same period in 2025, health authorities noted a significant recent increase following the latest floods.
Earlier official DOH data showed 3,440 cases as of August 8, with cases during July 12–25 already rising 27% compared with the preceding two-week period.
Why Cases Could Keep Rising
Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira bacteria and is commonly associated with water or mud contaminated by the urine of infected animals, particularly rodents.
Flooding dramatically increases exposure because contaminated water may come into contact with cuts, abrasions or mucous membranes. Health authorities stress that infection can occur even when a person does not notice a significant open wound.
Symptoms may not appear immediately after flood exposure, meaning hospitals could continue seeing new patients days or even weeks after major flooding events.
Common warning signs include:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Chills
- Muscle or calf pain
- Back pain
- Redness of the eyes
- Reduced or unusually colored urine
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes in severe cases
- Breathing difficulty or bleeding in advanced infections
Severe leptospirosis can damage the kidneys, liver and lungs and may require dialysis or intensive hospital treatment.
3.1 Million Doxycycline Capsules Prepared
The national government has placed affected health facilities under Code White Alert, while the DOH says it has around 3.1 million doxycycline capsules available through its central office and 17 regional Centers for Health Development.
However, health authorities are specifically warning people not to self-medicate with antibiotics.
The DOH recommends that anyone who has waded through floodwater or been exposed to potentially contaminated mud seek professional medical assessment, ideally within 24 to 48 hours, so a doctor can determine whether preventive antibiotic treatment is appropriate.
People who develop fever, muscle pain, headache, chills or red eyes after flood exposure should seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting for the illness to become severe.
Red Cross: More Personnel Can Be Sent
Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said the humanitarian organization is prepared to deploy additional personnel if San Lazaro Hospital requires more assistance.
PRC Secretary General Gwen Pang said the operation illustrates the organization’s role in supporting the country’s healthcare system during public-health emergencies.
The Red Cross said it would continue coordinating with San Lazaro and monitoring the leptospirosis situation as hospitals prepare for more patients.
The pressure is also being felt beyond San Lazaro. Recent reporting showed that the National Kidney and Transplant Institute temporarily restricted some walk-in admissions after reaching full bed capacity, with rising leptospirosis cases contributing to the strain.
The Bigger Concern
The headline numbers may still be catching up with infections acquired during the latest rounds of flooding.
That lag is why health officials are urging flood-exposed residents not to wait for serious symptoms before consulting a health professional. San Lazaro’s climb from a few dozen patients to more than 130 in a matter of days demonstrates how quickly hospital demand can accelerate after widespread flooding.
And with more rain and flood exposure remaining possible during the wet season, the biggest question is no longer simply how many cases hospitals are treating today.
It is how many more patients could arrive in the days ahead.
Leave a Reply