Philippines: Flooding from Typhoon Gorio prompts disease advisory

Event

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) issued a waterborne diseases advisory for increased risk of typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, and hepatitis A following flooding from Typhoon Gorio. Though the typhoon exited the Philippines on Saturday, July 29, and weather conditions have improved, the remaining floodwaters can increase the transmission of the above waterborne diseases. The DOH cautioned that avoiding contact with the contaminated floodwaters will reduce the risk of contracting these diseases, especially leptospirosis. The Philippine DOH also recommended that individuals to properly dispose of waste, maintain good personal hygiene, and avoid unstable structures and hanging wires.

Context

While Typhoon Gorio left zero casualties and weather is improving, individuals in the Philippines are still at risk for these waterborne diseases from monsoon rains, especially when in flood-prone and low-lying areas.

Typhoid fever spreads through food and water contaminated with the salmonella typhi bacteria or through close contact with someone infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea or constipation. Cholera is an intestinal bacterial infection caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water, and causes severe diarrhea and can quickly lead to dehydration and death if left untreated. Individuals can contract leptospirosis through contact with urine from infected animals or water, soil, or food contaminated with their urine, and can cause high fever, vomiting, and bleeding. Hepatitis A is transmitted through the ingestion of food contaminated with human waste and urine of people with the disease.

Advice

Individuals are advised to practice good hygiene (wash hands frequently, etc.) and take proper precautions (only eat thoroughly-cooked foods, only drink bottled or purified water, avoid ice cubes, etc.) to avoid contracting typhoid, cholera, or hepatitis A, and to seek medical attention if experiencing the above symptoms.

To decrease the risk of contracting leptospirosis, avoid contact with potentially infected animals and water or soil that might be contaminated with animal urine.

On a separate note, individuals present in the Philippines should note that some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to Western Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago due to ongoing terrorist activity and regular clashes between the military and insurgent groups.