Every flood in this country is followed a week or two later by a wave of leptospirosis. From January to early June 2026 the Department of Health logged 2,177 cases, higher than the same period the year before. Farmers and anyone whose work puts them in water are the most affected.
How people catch it
The bacteria are carried in the urine of infected animals, rats above all, and get into floodwater and mud. They enter through broken skin, or through the eyes, nose and mouth. A small cut on the foot is enough. This is why the disease follows flooding so reliably, and why cleaning up afterwards carries as much risk as the flood itself.
What it looks like at first
Deceptively ordinary. Fever, headache, muscle pain, particularly in the calves, and often red or irritated eyes. Later, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the skin and eyes. Untreated, leptospirosis can progress to kidney failure and bleeding into the lungs, and it can kill.
The critical detail is the history. If you had contact with floodwater or mud in the past two weeks and you now have a fever, say so at the consultation without being asked. It changes what the doctor is looking for.
Prevention, in order of usefulness
- Avoid wading in floodwater where there is any alternative
- Wear boots and gloves for cleanup and for any unavoidable crossing
- Cover cuts and grazes with a waterproof dressing before going out
- Wash thoroughly with soap and clean water after any exposure
- Control rats around the house and store food and rubbish sealed
Preventive antibiotics are sometimes given after heavy exposure, but that is a decision for a doctor who has assessed you, not something to arrange yourself at a pharmacy counter.
Sources
- Philippine Information Agency — DOH-7 warns of rising leptospirosis cases after flooding
- Philippine News Agency — DOH reminds public anew of leptospirosis risk amid rainy season
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. If you are unwell, come and be seen.