Real Talk

Leptospirosis: Every Family’s Rainy Day Menace

by Kevyn Gohu
August 6, 2025

Sure, there’s the flu, colds, and coughs. But the worst is yet to come in the form of leptospirosis

“Wear closed shoes,” “Don’t go out anymore,” or “take more vitamin C if you have to go!” — all the nagging our parents before us and we do as parents ourselves have merit. Especially in the Philippines, where sewage systems struggle to manage the floods, it leaves us more prone to leptospirosis — a germ-based, waterborne disease that comes from the pee of animals.

So, is the Philippines really prone to Leptospirosis?

Sure, there's the flu, colds, and coughs. But the worst is yet to come in the form of leptospirosis

Leptospirosis in the Philippines

Yesterday, on August 5, 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) renewed its warnings to the public about the dangers of leptospirosis. It’s potentially life-threatening, causing severe damage to our organs or what doctors call “multiple organ failure.” It also causes hemorrhaging or bleeding.

Unfortunately, the cases are climbing. Since June 8, over 1,114 cases of leptospirosis have been recorded. From July 13 to 31, over 569 cases have been recorded, with Quezon City’s East Avenue Medical reporting over 32 cases. And due to the disease’s attack on the kidney, over 20 patients were admitted to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

The disease has already claimed some lives. In San Lazaro Hospital, over 41 people have been admitted for leptospirosis, with 7 of them dying. One of them is a 16-year-old who died of kidney failure.

20-year-old Dion Angelo “Gelo” dela Rosa unfortunately also passed away due to leptospirosis. He waded through the floods to search for his father, Jayson, who was arrested for allegedly playing kara y krus—a small-time street coin game.

Cost of Intervention: How much will it take to cure leptospirosis?

Of course, costs will vary across the board, depending on the disease’s severity. But there are estimates, especially since the most common organ leptospirosis seems to be the kidney.

According to Pinoy Medical, a kidney transplant (the worst-case scenario) costs around PHP 1.24 million to PHP 1.9 million. That’s just the surgery! Transplants also require people to take medicines that’ll prevent them from rejecting the kidney, which costs around PHP 200,000. However, these costs can go up or down, depending on whether the family has insurance or connections in the hospital.

The “softer” scenario involves a procedure known as dialysis. However, this is an everyday process as it filters the blood out and costs PHP 6,350.00. It suffered a price hike from its original price, PHP 4,000/session.

Then, there are the antibiotics that the patients need to take religiously. Don’t stop. Don’t skip. Leptospirosis has reportedly gotten more aggressive over time. If it has become so aggressive, then they’ll have to admit the patient too which incurs additional costs.

Prevention is Better than a Cure

Both costs and procedures are stressful, which is why doctors always stress, “Prevention is always better than cure!”

What makes leptospirosis easily preventable is that it is transmitted through water. So long as we don’t touch soil or water that’s contaminated by leptospirosis, we should have a low chance of getting it. Here are some ways to prevent it:

Invest in rain boots or shoes made from materials that keep the water out. Rain boots may not be the prettiest thing to wear, but they are practical. But there are some places in the department stores that make rain boots look a little less of an eyesore.
If you have a wound on your foot, keep it dry. Leptospirosis enters through wounds. Once its in, it’s free real estate, and it’ll attack any organ it wants since it travels through the blood.
Vitamin C and a lot of water. Water cleanses the body. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that boosts the immune system.
Keep the food trash to a minimum. Especially for families that cook a lot, make sure to keep the wet trash or food trash to a minimum. Or at least, throw them properly. Rodents like rats love ripping open those bags and that’s how leptospirosis starts to spread.
If you’re outside and you see it flooding, wait it out. While we’re all desperate to go home, it’s better to wait out the flood than wade through it or have our cars stall in the middle because it took in too much water.

Unfortunately, not all families can stay dry

Although we Filipinos can brave the rains for whatever reason, our health usually pays the price. Unfortunately, for many Filipino families, working even in the harshest rains is a must to ensure a meal for their families. If we can help prevent leptospirosis in our families and have enough to help others, then why not?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that hits hard and fast nowadays—certainly becoming quite stressful for any of our families to deal with. So, do your best to stay dry!