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LIST: DOH hospitals with leptospirosis 'fast lanes'

By AYIE LICSI Published Aug 10, 2025 11:35 am

The Department of Health has opened leptospirosis "fast lanes" at some hospitals as cases surge following the flooding brought about by recent tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon in July.

According to the agency, the fast lanes will offer consultation and assessment for patients to know whether they need to be admitted to the hospital. They will also check the risk level for each case and provide a prescription for doxycycline.

Here are the 19 DOH hospitals with leptospirosis fast lanes.

  1. San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital
  2. East Avenue Medical Center
  3. Quirino Memorial Medical Center
  4. Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium
  5. Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
  6. Philippine Orthopedic Center
  7. San Lazaro Hospital
  8. Valenzuela Medical Center
  9. Tondo Medical Center
  10. Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
  11. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center
  12. Rizal Medical Center
  13. Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
  14. National Children's Hospital
  15. National Center for Mental Health
  16. Lung Center of the Philippines
  17. National Kidney and Transplant Institute
  18. Philippine Children's Medical Center
  19. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

From June 8, nearly a week after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared rainy season, until Aug. 7, the DOH logged 2,396 cases of leptospirosis.

"Handa naman ang ahensya sa inaasahang pagtaas sa kaso ng leptospirosis matapos ang sunod sunod na pagbaha mula July 21 dulot ng habagat, bagyong Crising, Dante, at Emong," the health agency said in a statement.

On Aug. 6, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center announced experiencing overcapacity in emergency rooms, even as it reported having 66 cases of leptospirosis.

Pasay City General Hospital and the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital also announced that their emergency rooms were at full capacity.

In an interview with Dobol B TV on Aug. 9, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that leptospirosis cases may still go up.

"Ang warning po namin is noong July 26, noong weekend na 'yon, counting from that up to [Saturday], naka one week pa lang tayo more or less. Remember po ang incubation period ng leptospirosis is one to two weeks. So maari pang tumaas 'yung [mga kaso]. Sana hindi na [tumaas]," he said.

Leptospirosis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is an illness caused by the bacteria Leptospira, which is contracted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals.

In a previous interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, adult infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Emmeline Borillo, said leptospirosis can be prevented through rodent control and by taking chemoprophylaxis with doxycycline with a physician's order.

Its symptoms include high fever, red eyes, headache, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and rash. For severe cases, patients may also experience coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe yellowing of skin or eyes, black and tarry stool, blood in pee, decreased amount of urine, and flat, red spots on your skin.