Jamaine Punzalan

A view of the facade of the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on June 9, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — San Lazaro Hospital is appealing for patience as it struggles to keep up with a growing wave of leptospirosis patients, with its emergency room overflowing and hospital staff working under increasing pressure following recent floods.</p><p>Patients lined up outside the hospital&#x27;s emergency room on Tuesday morning, waiting for hours to be examined as the facility reached capacity.</p><p>Speaking to ABS-CBN News, hospital chief Dr. David Suplico said what used to take two to four hours for a patient to be assessed and diagnosed could now take significantly longer because of the sheer number of people seeking treatment.</p><p>Inside the emergency room, every available space was occupied. Doctors and nurses moved from one patient to another, treating both emergency cases and people seeking consultation through the hospital&#x27;s dedicated leptospirosis express lane.</p><p>As of Tuesday morning, San Lazaro Hospital has admitted 135 leptospirosis patients, including 31 new admissions. </p><p>Dr. Suplico said they expect the number of cases to continue rising through the end of the month as more flood-related infections emerge.</p><p>To accommodate the surge, the hospital expanded its capacity by converting an older ward into additional patient space. Cots borrowed from Fabella Hospital have been set up to house more patients, but Suplico said adding beds is only part of the challenge.</p><p>&quot;Our allotted beds for leptospirosis are already at 120, but we cannot turn patients away,&quot; Suplico said.</p><p>The Philippine Red Cross has also deployed 16 personnel to augment San Lazaro&#x27;s nursing workforce.</p><p>&quot;I also have to make sure our employees do not burn out,&quot; Suplico said.</p><p>Despite the additional manpower, hospital officials acknowledged that the continued influx of patients was straining both facilities and healthcare workers.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DISREGARDED MILD SYMPTOMS CAN BECOME SEVERE</strong></div><p>Among those waiting outside the emergency room was &quot;Rudolf&quot;, who had become visibly weak. His eyes had already begun turning yellow.</p><p>Rudolf admitted he did not know there was medication that could be taken after exposure to floodwater.</p><p>He described leptospirosis as debilitating, saying it felt as though half of his body had stopped working because even walking had become difficult.</p><p>Doctors said such cases underscore why early consultation is critical.</p><p>Another patient, &quot;Anderson&quot;, sought treatment shortly after developing symptoms following floodwater exposure. Because he sought medical care early, he avoided developing severe kidney damage that would have required dialysis.</p><p>He urged others not to ignore early warning signs. </p><p>“Maganda pumunta agad sa ospital para hindi na mapunta sa severe case. Nakakatakot po, nakakamatay po yun eh. Wag na kayong maging makulit. Mahirap maospital lalo pag walang pera,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/24/nkti-s-er-is-full-adds-more-beds-as-leptospirosis-cases-rise-2110">NKTI adds more beds as leptospirosis cases rise</a> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FLOOD SEASON NOT YET OVER </strong></div><p>Health officials warned that the danger remains as the rainy season continues and more flooding is still possible.</p><p>Suplico reminded the public that leptospira bacteria do not enter the body only through open wounds. </p><p>“Minsan ang mga tao, binabalewala ang simpleng trangkaso. But if you have a history of wading sa flood there is already a bacteria,” Suplico said.</p><p>“Ang problema kung wala kang sugat sa katawan, ang mucous membrane ng tao mula sa mata, ilong, sa bibig, pwedeng pasukan ng leptospirosis bacteria.” </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/23/know-the-warning-signs-symptoms-of-leptospirosis-2324">Know the warning signs: Symptoms of leptospirosis</a></div><p>Leptospirosis has an incubation period ranging from two days to one month. Health experts urged anyone who develops fever, muscle pain, headache, or other flu-like symptoms after wading through floodwaters to seek medical attention immediately. </p><p>While leptospirosis is largely preventable, doctors warned it can quickly become fatal when left untreated.</p><p>Since August 10, at least six patients have died from leptospirosis at San Lazaro Hospital. </p><p>Another patient succumbed to the disease on Tuesday, a reminder of how rapidly the infection can turn deadly when treatment comes too late. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/18/leptospirosis-cases-expected-to-climb-after-floods-doh-urges-early-treatment-1943">Leptospirosis cases expected to climb after floods; DOH urges early treatment after exposure</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Arr9_Xrs2tQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>San Lazaro Hospital is appealing for patience as it struggles to keep up with a growing wave of leptospirosis patients, with its emergency room overflowing and hospital staff working under increasing pressure following recent floods.</p>

San Lazaro Hospital is appealing for patience as it struggles to keep up with a growing wave of leptospirosis patients, with its emergency room overflowing and hospital staff working under increasing pressure following recent floods.

San Lazaro Hospital ER stretched by leptospirosis surge; Philippine Red Cross augments nursing manpower

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San Lazaro Hospital ER stretched by leptospirosis surge; Philippine Red Cross augments nursing manpower

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 05:55 PM PHT

|

Updated August 25, 2026 06:40 PM PHT

Read More:

Leptospirosis

San Lazaro Hopsital

health

Red Cross

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