HERMOSA, Bataan — Massive fl oods caused by heavy rainfall due to tropical storms and the southwest monsoon left in their wake cases of the dreaded leptospirosis and “alipunga” infection in Bataan.
Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, provincial health officer, on Wednesday said that six cases of leptospirosis were recorded from January 1 to July this week.
She said that the victims who were already in good condition were from the towns of Orion, Mariveles, Orani and Hermosa.
Buccahan said they have distributed the preposition medicines to all rural health centers in 11 towns before tropical storm Inday and then Josie.
Under the 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 tumutulong sa rescue operation o ang mga responders ay binigyan natin ng prophylaxis for leptospirosis,” the health officer said.
The municipal health physician in Hermosa said they have received report that many flood victims in Barangay Almacen were suffering from alipunga which he said was a common infection after the flood.
Dr. Bismarck Abad said he has instructed his health personnel to see the health condition of residents in the villages of Almacen, Daungan and Pulo, which were hardest hit by floods in Hermosa.
He cautioned those suffering from alipunga against using any medication unless those prescribed by the health office after learning that some residents were using amoxicillin.
Abad said that alipunga 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 creme for alipunga.
Corazon Arellano, 72, of Almacen said their house was submerged in more than six feet flood water.
“Apat na araw na alipunga ko. Alcohol ang iginagamot ko pero nang maubos na, kalamansi na inilalagay ko,” she said.
After almost a week of more than six feet of flood, the street of Almacen on Wednesday was beginning to have only ankle-deep water.
Rogelio Santos, 69, said he was using soap as medication for his alipunga that he said was already a week old.
“Magpadala sana gobyerno ng gamot sa lagnat at pagkain,” he said.
An old man was continuously applying crushed amoxicillin tablet on his alipunga.
“Masakit hanggang binti,” he said, adding “maraming may alipunga sa Almacen. Auring Punzalan, 73, was clearing her house of mud and showed her swollen alipunga on her feet.
“Amoxicillin ang gamit ko,” she said. Danny Buenaventura, 63, described the recent flood as “pinakamataas na baha.”
“Dalawang araw na akong naglilinis pangatlo na bukas, sobrang kapal ng putik. Talagang ganyan, may kalamidad,” he said smiling.
Buenaventura said that no amount of dredging in the Almacen River will solve flooding in Almacen that he said existed for many years.
“Mababang lugar ang Almacen, hindi na maaalis ang baha,” he said.
