Heart Evangelista's fur baby, Panda, recovers from leptospirosis
The Global Fashion Icon shared the news on her TikTok account, calling her beloved dog "my leptospirosis survivor."
"I love you Panda. Thank you Lord you are OK," she wrote in the caption.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leptospirosis is caused by the bacterium Leptospira found in contaminated water or soil.
Leptospirosis cases typically spike when floods occur during the rainy season.
When asked by a netizen if Panda waded through flood waters, Heart said it was actually her who did so. Panda was with her inside the car, so she might have contracted the disease via the actress's pants or shoes.
In Katrina Son's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, Dr. Rey Del Napoles of the Quezon City Veterinary Department said animals are also at risk of getting seriously ill from leptospirosis, just like humans.
"Ang baboy, ang kambing, ang baka, at kalabaw kapag na-expose po sila sa baha, puwede po sila magkaroon ng leptospirosis," he said. "Lalo na po 'yung mga alaga nating aso, they're highly susceptible to it."
Animals exposed to contaminated water may contract leptospirosis via their eyes, mouth, or open wounds.
Symptoms of the disease in animals include lethargy, lack of appetite, muscle pain, and difficulty urinating.
"The manifestation po ng leptospirosis usually po nasa two weeks 'yun from the exposure," Napoles said. "Pero huwag po natin hintayin na mag-develop muna ng symptoms kasi po the symptoms of leptospirosis can be confused for other diseases until na-narrow down ng doctor."
As of August 8, 13 patients died of leptospirosis in San Lazaro Hospital.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
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The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public to consult a doctor first and secure prescription before taking doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat leptospirosis. (File photo) An official from the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reminded the public to consult a doctor first and secure a prescription before taking doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat leptospirosis, if exposed to flood waters. 'But ang pinaka-important message po dito is, still, bago ka gumamit ng doxycycline, kailangan mo ng prescription. So kailangan pa rin po talaga kakonsulta sa doktor, no? Or mag-consult sa inyong nearest doctor sa inyong health center, no? Before kayo makakuha,' said Johanna Mallari-Abella of DOH-Pharmaceutical Division in a discussion with the private sector on antimicrobial resistance awareness. (The most important message here is that before you use doxycycline, you still need a prescription. 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DOH reminder vs leptospirosis There are 2,396 leptospirosis cases logged nationwide from June 8 to August 7, 2025, the DOH earlier said. Several hospitals in Metro Manila earlier reported an influx of leptospirosis cases following the floods brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and a series of tropical cyclones that hit the country. But infectious diseases expert Rontgene Solante said the recent rise in leptospirosis cases in the country is unlikely to trigger a health emergency Antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to such an extent that regular medicines can no longer treat them. Examples of antimicrobials include antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitic agents, and antifungals. However, inappropriate and excessive use of them can make treatment ineffective in the future, the experts worry. 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4 days ago
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Heart Evangelista's fur baby, Panda, recovers from leptospirosis
Heart Evangelista's fur baby, Panda, recovered from a bout of leptospirosis. The Global Fashion Icon shared the news on her TikTok account, calling her beloved dog "my leptospirosis survivor." "I love you Panda. Thank you Lord you are OK," she wrote in the caption. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leptospirosis is caused by the bacterium Leptospira found in contaminated water or soil. Leptospirosis cases typically spike when floods occur during the rainy season. When asked by a netizen if Panda waded through flood waters, Heart said it was actually her who did so. Panda was with her inside the car, so she might have contracted the disease via the actress's pants or shoes. In Katrina Son's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, Dr. Rey Del Napoles of the Quezon City Veterinary Department said animals are also at risk of getting seriously ill from leptospirosis, just like humans. "Ang baboy, ang kambing, ang baka, at kalabaw kapag na-expose po sila sa baha, puwede po sila magkaroon ng leptospirosis," he said. "Lalo na po 'yung mga alaga nating aso, they're highly susceptible to it." Animals exposed to contaminated water may contract leptospirosis via their eyes, mouth, or open wounds. Symptoms of the disease in animals include lethargy, lack of appetite, muscle pain, and difficulty urinating. "The manifestation po ng leptospirosis usually po nasa two weeks 'yun from the exposure," Napoles said. "Pero huwag po natin hintayin na mag-develop muna ng symptoms kasi po the symptoms of leptospirosis can be confused for other diseases until na-narrow down ng doctor." As of August 8, 13 patients died of leptospirosis in San Lazaro Hospital. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
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6 days ago
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