When floodwaters entered Barangay Bancao-Bancao in Puerto Princesa City in February, residents moved as they always had. They waded through water to save belongings and help neighbors. For many, it felt routine.
For Salvador Bersaval, it almost cost him his life.
He didn’t believe it was leptospirosis because he washed his feet after flood exposure and couldn’t get infected.
Days after the flood, he developed a fever and body pain. At first, the symptoms eased, then returned. Within a week, he could no longer stand or eat. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with leptospirosis.
“Parang wala na akong pag-asa doon kasi yong mga kasabay ko doon, kinabukasan patay. Meron pang after ng dalawang araw, patay din,” Bersaval said.
Bersaval spent 15 days in the hospital and lost consciousness for several days. It took him seven months to recover.
He was not the only one.
In the same barangay, two other residents also tested positive for leptospirosis. Barangay officials said some of them did not evacuate and missed the preventive medicine distributed at evacuation centers.
Barangay captain Gayjun Dangan said they moved quickly once cases were confirmed.
“Yong mga naiwan at di sumama sa amin, yon ang tinamaan kasi di nakapag-take ng gamot,” Dangan said.
Leptospirosis cases, however, are not always linked to flood exposure.
Nygel Tamparong, a student from Narra, never waded through floodwaters. Yet he developed symptoms that doctors suspected were leptospirosis. Swelling appeared on his arms, shoulders, and face.
“One day, nagkaroon ako ng mga symptoms na di ko naman pinapansin,” he said.
“Napansin ng mother ko na nagkaroon ako dito sa shoulders ko, sa likod ko, sa hands, and then mas napansin niya sa mukha ko na parang makapal… parang swelling,” he said.
Health workers believe the infection may have come from rats inside their boarding house. Rats often pass through ceilings, walls, and storage areas, contaminating clothes, food, and surfaces.
Tamparong was already taking antibiotics for another medical reason. His symptoms improved within a week, and he did not need to be hospitalized.
Health officials said his case shows that leptospirosis can spread inside homes, not only outdoors.
Benedict Basaya, nurse and Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief of the City Health Office, explained that leptospirosis is caused by bacteria found in water, soil, and food contaminated with the urine of infected animals, most commonly rats.
“Minsan kung ang daga naka-infect ng ibang hayop, puwedeng yong hayop ang magdala,” he said.
He warned that the disease progresses quickly. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, chills, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Severe cases can damage the kidneys and liver. Yellowing of the skin and eyes is a sign of serious infection.
59% spike in leptospirosis hits Palawan
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) show a 59% increase in leptospirosis cases in the region from January to September this year compared to the same period in 2024, with Palawan posting the highest number of infections.
As of September 16, 2025, there were 220 instances documented in the area, up from 138 in 2024. There were 116 cases in Palawan, 36 in Oriental Mindoro, 35 in Occidental Mindoro, 29 in Marinduque, and 4 in Romblon.
Eight of the 30 recorded fatalities in the region were from Palawan.
Most cases were concentrated in Puerto Princesa City with 32, followed by Roxas with 9, Taytay and Narra with 7 each, Brooke’s Point and Quezon with 5 each, and other municipalities with fewer than 5 cases. Barangay Bancao-Bancao is among the areas with the highest number of cases in the city.
The City Health Office (CHO) said cases this year are higher than in 2024, with four deaths recorded. Many patients arrived at hospitals when the disease had already worsened.
To curb the spread, Basaya said the city government has prepared supplies of preventive medicine against leptospirosis, particularly during typhoon season.
Health workers are also screening patients for flood exposure and early symptoms to prevent complications.
“Ang DOH ay naglabas din kung ano yong dapat inumin na gamot, or post-exposure prophylaxis. Yong gamot na yon ay iniinom kada exposure mo,” Basaya said.
Policy direction
In Roxas, located in northern Palawan, rural health officials reported that cases of leptospirosis have been linked to barangays frequently affected by flooding.
Bes Rodriguez, a surveillance officer with the Roxas Municipal Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said residents are now aware that they might get leptospirosis if they are exposed to flooding.
“Alam namin aware na sila. Kapag nalubog sila sa baha at humingi ng gamot, binibigyan namin,” she said, noting they now have regular supplies of the anti-leptospirosis medication.
Board Member Ryan Maminta of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan health committee said leptospirosis is now considered a top health concern in the province.
He pointed out that rising case numbers pushed the disease into policy discussions.
Maminta stressed that the province has adopted a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management for Health plan to respond to disease outbreaks linked to floods and typhoons. Funds may be used for medicine, emergency purchases, and awareness campaigns.
“Na-appreciate namin yong data after the fact na. Nagiging top concern na siya ngayon sa mga usapan kasi may previous appreciation na kami na marami na palang mga cases na ganito sa Palawan,” Maminta said.
“Ang pagkilos natin dyan, may kaukulang pondo na galing sa DRRM,” he added.
For survivors like Bersaval and Tamparong, the experience changed how they see everyday risks.
Health officials stressed that leptospirosis is preventable. Clean surroundings, proper sanitation, early consultation, and coordination between communities and health agencies can stop the disease before it turns deadly.
As storms grow stronger and floods become more frequent, they warned that prevention must come before the next emergency. (Celeste Anna Formoso, Jan Elmer Badilla, June Anne Lazaro, Cedez Castro, and Rachel Ganancial)
*** This One Health story was written with the support of CFI, agence française de développement médias, the French media development agency. One Health is an approach that recognizes the close link between human health, animal health, and the environment. It brings these sectors together to prevent disease, reduce health risks, and protect ecosystems in a sustainable way.
