HERMOSA, Bataan — Massive floods caused by heavy rainfall due to tropical storms and the southwest monsoon has left some people with leptospirosis, as well as athlete’s foot in Bataan.
Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, provincial health officer, on Wednesday said that six cases of leptospirosis were recorded from January 1 to this week of July.
She said that the victims, who are now in good condition, are from the towns of Orion, Mariveles, Orani and Hermosa.
Buccahan said they have prepositioned medicines in all rural health centers in 11 towns before tropical storm Inday and tropical depression Josie hit the province.
Under the Provincial Health Office (PHO) are the municipalities of Dinalupihan; Hermosa; Orani; Samal; Abucay; Pilar; Orion; Limay; Mariveles; Bagac; and Morong. Balanga City has a separate health office.
“Lahat ng tumulong sa rescue operation o ang mga responders ay binigyan natin ng prophylaxis for leptospirosis (We gave prophylaxis for leptospirosis to all those who are helped in rescue operations or the responders),” the health officer said.
Meanwhile, the municipal health physician in Hermosa said they received report that many flood victims in Barangay Almacen were now suffering from athlete’s foot which, he said, was a common infection after the flood.
Dr. Bismarck Abad said he has instructed his medical personnel to see the health condition of residents in the villages of Almacen, Daungan and Pulo, which were hardest hit by flood in Hermosa.
After learning that some residents were taking Amoxicillin, he cautioned those suffering from athlete’s foot against self-medication.
Abad said athlete’s foot, being a fungal infection, has to be treated by fungicide and not by anti-bacterial drug.
He said that they have requested from the PHO the necessary ointment for athlete’s foot.
Corazon Arellano, 72, of Barangay Almace, said their house was submerged in more than six feet of floodwater.
“It has now been four days that I have an athlete’s foot. I was using alcohol. But when it was consumed, I applied calamansi,” she said.
After almost a week of being submerged in more than six-foot deep flood, Almacen Street on Wednesday only had ankle-deep water.
Danny Buenaventura, 63, described the recent flood as the worst.
He said that no amount of dredging in the Almacen River would solve flooding in their street and the problem has persisted for many years. (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
