The number of reported leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon that were affected by floods has reached 1,027, with 89 fatalities as of Thursday, the Department of Health said Friday.

Leptospirosis outbreaks were declared in barangays Malanday, Tumana and Conception I in Marikina City where there are 82 cases. However, Quezon City declared the most number of cases with 122 patients infected.

Other severely affected areas include Rizal province, which also registered a significant number of deaths from tropical storm “Ondoy”.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which could be contracted by humans when exposed to the floodwaters containing the urine of infected animals like rats, dogs and pigs. Its symptoms include vomiting, headaches, chills, and muscle aches and could lead to jaundice and kidney damage if not treated. It has an incubation period of 4 to 14 days.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said the increase of leptospirosis cases was caused by the widespread flooding caused by the two major storms that devastated huge areas of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

He warned the public to avoid wading in the fetid flood water to avoid being infected by leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases like typhoid fever, cholera, and hepatitis.

Duque said the government has at its disposal a large supply of prophylaxis, a drug which cures leptospirosis and would be immediately administered to infected individuals.

The DOH has projected a continuous increase in leptospirosis cases in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon that are still under water.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said the government is hiring more nurses and health workers to deal with the rising number of leptospirosis cases.

President Arroyo has authorized the DoH to deploy more teams to curb the outbreak of water-borne disease in calamity areas, the Palace said.

“The Department of Health has been directed by the President to step up this campaign, to field more health teams, and even to employ additional nurses and health workers under the NARS program to address the problem,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters in the Palace last Thursday.

Launched in February this year, Project NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Service) aims to deploy “warriors of wellness” in poor communities. The program offers job experience to unemployed registered nurses in the country.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello said Duque had to cut short his participation in the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in the Palace last Thursday to carry out the President’s orders.

Bello said Duque plans to meet with concerned local executives in flooded communities to address the problem.

Duque said state-run PhilHealth will provide free medical assistance to members with leptospirosis, adding that the health department is still coordinating with private hospitals to extend the same aid.

In Bulacan, the Provincial Health Office has recorded its first leptospirosis death, plus at least 12 others hospitalized.

Dr. Joycelyn Gomez, Bulacan provincial health officer, identified the fatality as Mark Anthony Jutara, 21, of Barangay Saog, Marilao town.

Jutara’s relatives claimed that he contracted the fatal disease last Sept. 27 after helping his flood affected neighbors, during which he was wounded by a sharp object.

“Noong nakaraang Miyerkules nagsuka at nagtae ang anak ko at hanggang sa hindi na makayanan ang katawan. Bukod pa rito, napuna nila ang paninilaw ng mata at balat ni Mark, at hindi na rin umiihi,” according to Jutara’s mother Virginia.

In Rodriguez, Rizal, acting Mayor Jonas Cruz also said a 28-year-old male from Barangay Balite and an adult female from Dela Costa 5, Barangay Burgos also died from leptospirosis. (With reports from Genalyn Kabiling and Franco Regala)