Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Rizal Medical Center’s (RMC) emergency room is now on red alert, signaling that it is already operating at full capacity as hospitals continue to grapple with a surge of leptospirosis and other emergency cases following recent flooding.</p><p>Hospital officials said the emergency department has a threshold of 100 patients — 30 occupying hospital beds and another 70 on stretchers and wheelchairs. But as one of the country&#x27;s major referral hospitals serving Metro Manila and Rizal province, RMC continues to accept emergency patients despite the overcrowding.</p><p>&quot;Although our ER is on red alert, it remains our obligation to accept patients, especially emergency cases or those needing immediate medical attention,&quot; said Dr. Jonathan Babaran, Chief Resident of Rizal Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department.</p><p>Babaran said the hospital expects leptospirosis cases to continue rising throughout September but remains prepared for the anticipated influx.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/25/san-lazaro-hospital-er-stretched-by-leptospirosis-surge-1755"><strong>San Lazaro Hospital ER stretched by leptospirosis surge; Philippine Red Cross augments nursing manpower</strong></a></div><p>More than 30 leptospirosis patients have already been brought to RMC this month. Of these, 12 are adult patients while 10 are children currently receiving treatment. Hospital staff say that five patients have already died from the disease.</p><p>The situation mirrors that of several Department of Health hospitals. In the past days, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and San Lazaro Hospital have also experienced pressure in the ER due to a rise in patients with the vector-borne disease.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FAMILY RECOUNTS FINAL HOURS</strong></div><p>Among those who did not survive was Joel Nalda.</p><p>When ABS-CBN News interviewed him at San Lazaro Hospital on Sunday, Joel was sitting up in bed and still hopeful about recovering.</p><p>&quot;Sana sa tulong ng Diyos, gumanda na ng dire-diretso. Kasi maliliit pa mga anak ko, kailangan ako nila,&quot; he said.</p><p>But within hours, his condition rapidly deteriorated. The following morning, he died from complications of leptospirosis, in front of his daughter, Nicole.</p><p>”Nakita ko na parang inaccept na lang po niya yung nangyayari sa kaniya,&quot; Nicole recalled. &quot;Nung tinubuhan po siya, yun yung nirerevive siya sa harap ko.”</p><p>She said her father fought until the very end.</p><div><a class="fr-green" 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"><strong>NKTI adds more beds as leptospirosis cases rise</strong></a></div><p>&quot;&#x27;Nak, lumalaban ako, pero hindi ko na talaga kaya.&#x27; Parang at the end nilaban niya pero siyempre yung katawan niya na rin talaga ang bumigay,&quot; she said.</p><p>Joel&#x27;s death prompted his sister, Jhen, an overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong, to fly home only weeks after spending a vacation with her family in the Philippines.</p><p>She said it remains difficult to accept losing her brother to a disease that could have been prevented.</p><p>&quot;Hanggang ngayon hindi nagsi-sink in na patay na ang kapatid ko,&quot; she said.</p><p>She urged the public not to underestimate the disease: &quot;Seryosohin niyo. Kasi pag buhay na ang nawala, hindi na maibabalik.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DOCTORS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CONSULTATION</strong></div><p>Doctors warn that leptospirosis can become fatal if treatment is delayed but emphasized that it is also largely preventable.</p><p>Dr. Ennavel Algas, chief resident of RMC&#x27;s Department of Pediatrics, said children exposed to contaminated floodwater may also receive doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis, although the dosage depends on the child&#x27;s weight and should only be given after consultation with a healthcare worker.</p><p>&quot;Meron din pong post prophylaxis ang pedia patients. Depende po kasi yun sa timbang kaya kailangang lumapit sa pinakamalapit na health center para mabigyan ng tamang dose,” Algas said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/23/know-the-warning-signs-symptoms-of-leptospirosis-2324"><strong>Know the warning signs: Symptoms of leptospirosis</strong></a></div><p>Health experts stressed that people exposed to floodwaters should not wait for symptoms before consulting a doctor. Early medical evaluation and preventive treatment can significantly reduce the risk of developing severe disease.</p><p>PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Alfred Philip De Dios, in a DZMM interview, said consultations at accredited YAKAP Clinics are free and covered by PhilHealth.</p><p>Patients who develop symptoms may also proceed directly to hospital emergency rooms, where PhilHealth benefits remain available. In government hospitals, patients may qualify for no-balance billing depending on eligibility.</p>

<p>MANILA — Rizal Medical Center’s (RMC) emergency room is now on red alert signaling that it is already operating at full capacity as hospitals continue to grapple with a surge of leptospirosis and other emergency cases following recent flooding.</p>

MANILA — Rizal Medical Center’s (RMC) emergency room is now on red alert signaling that it is already operating at full capacity as hospitals continue to grapple with a surge of leptospirosis and other emergency cases following recent flooding.

Rizal Medical Center’s ER on red alert; family mourns another flood-related death

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Rizal Medical Center’s ER on red alert; family mourns another flood-related death

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 07:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Leptospirosis

San Lazaro Hospital

Rizal Medical Center

Red alert

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