With leptospirosis cases in Manila on the rise, City Health Department chief Dr. Grace Padilla announced that Sta. Ana Hospital will open a dedicated ward exclusively for patients with the disease.

Padilla voiced alarm over the surge in severe cases and fatalities, noting that 18 people have already died in the city. Many patients, she said, are arriving at hospitals in the late stages of the illness, with some already needing dialysis.

She urged the public to avoid wading in floodwaters and, if unavoidable, to immediately seek treatment at city health centers, where prophylaxis is given free of charge — especially for those with foot wounds.

At Ospital ng Maynila (OM), the emergency room has exceeded capacity, with 140 leptospirosis cases admitted so far. Padilla appealed for understanding, saying the hospital’s limited bed space cannot keep up with the influx. Patients may be referred to other city hospitals through OM-issued transfers.