ILOILO City – With the onset of the rainy season threatening to unleash more than just floodwaters, health authorities in this city are shifting gears from reactive warnings to a preemptive public health campaign — treating leptospirosis as a crisis to prevent, not just respond to.
This year, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) is taking a more aggressive stance, deploying targeted interventions in barangays most vulnerable to flooding and rat infestations. This marks a strategic pivot from previous years’ reactive advisories toward a more community-centered prevention approach.
Dr. Reygine Hortinela, medical officer of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), confirmed that cases have already surfaced in Jaro, La Paz, and Arevalo districts, signaling early transmission even before the peak of the rainy season.
“Leptospirosis thrives in floodwaters, but we must stop waiting for infections to pile up before acting,” Hortinela said. “We’re now focusing on anticipation — empowering communities to respond before infections spread.”
As part of this proactive approach, CHO is ramping up risk mapping, distributing prophylactic antibiotics to high-risk residents, and partnering with barangay leaders to launch neighborhood clean-up drives and door-to-door awareness campaigns.
Health officials clarified, however, that preventive antibiotics are not for all.
“These are not over-the-counter solutions. Timing and eligibility matter. Pregnant women and children, for instance, require medical evaluation first,” Hortinela explained.
Key to this new strategy is environmental control: unclogging drainage systems, securing garbage disposal, and limiting rat access to human spaces — actions the CHO considers as essential as medication.
Floodwater is not just an inconvenience — it’s a potential carrier of deadly bacteria, Hortinela warned: “People must stop wading through it unnecessarily, especially if they have open wounds. One careless step could lead to life-threatening illness.”
Community consultations, health caravans, and barangay-based health monitoring are expected to roll out in coming weeks. The CHO also plans to intensify educational efforts in schools and public markets where exposure risk is high.
“We can no longer treat leptospirosis like seasonal news,” said Hortinela. “It’s a recurring public health threat that needs year-round vigilance, especially as climate change continues to worsen flooding in urban centers.”
The city government is urging all households to take part in prevention efforts, stressing that the fight against leptospirosis begins not at the clinic—but at home./PN
