The Philippines' leptospirosis cases have climbed to 5,486, with 344 fatalities recorded since January 4, and the Department of Health (DoH) said on Friday that infections could rise further in the next two weeks, prompting its hospitals to set up fast lanes and reinforce staffing in response.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, typically rats, and commonly enters the body through cuts or wounds when people wade through floodwaters — a recurring hazard during the Philippines' rainy season, when storms and monsoon rains trigger widespread flooding in urban areas.

DoH Undersecretary for Health Dr. Gloria J. Balboa reported that leptospirosis cases reached 5,486 between January 4 and August 26 — a 23% decrease from the 7,163 cases logged during the same period last year.

Even with the year-on-year decline, the DoH continues to roll out response measures as it anticipates a possible increase in infections over the coming two weeks. Symptoms of the disease — which can include fever, muscle pain, and in severe cases kidney damage — typically appear within two weeks of exposure, which is why health authorities brace for a rise in cases after flooding events.

"So, we are expecting an increase in cases in the next two weeks due to the recent heavy rains and flooding," DoH Secretary Dr. Edwin M. Mercado said during a press conference held in Filipino.

"That is why the DOH is continuously intensifying its surveillance of leptospirosis cases, while also ensuring that its facilities remain operational and have adequate supplies," he added.

In the National Capital Region, 158 patients are currently admitted at San Lazaro Hospital, the majority of them mild cases.

At the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), which handles more than 90% of severe leptospirosis cases in the country, at least 144 patients have been admitted since January, with one fatality, according to NKTI Executive Director Dr. Jose Dante P. Dator. Of these, 52 patients are currently confined.

Amid the surge in cases and the risk of further increases driven by ongoing inclement weather, 33 DoH hospitals in highly affected regions have implemented fast lanes to ensure leptospirosis patients are attended to without delay, Dr. Mercado said.

"Patients here will be attended to immediately. If they develop symptoms such as fever, swelling, and difficulty urinating, we do not delay treatment and instead expedite the process," Mr. Mercado said.

"After seeing the long lines of patients at San Lazaro, we set up a tent so patients could be attended to immediately, as they first need to undergo testing and have their blood drawn," he added.

The DoH has also convened a command conference to strengthen coordination among its hospitals, prevent congestion at individual facilities, and help patients locate hospitals with available capacity for treatment.

The agency has deployed additional health workers and erected tents at hospitals such as San Lazaro to help manage the influx of patients.

The DoH continues to advise the public to avoid wading through floodwaters and, if exposure is unavoidable, to seek consultation at health centers and YAKAP centers to receive preventive medication — an approach consistent with the use of post-exposure prophylaxis, such as antibiotics, to forestall infection after contact with contaminated water. — Edg Adrian A. Eva