Eastern Visayas: The Department of Health (DOH) in Region 8 has issued a public warning concerning water-borne diseases following persistent heavy rains in the region since last week.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH regional office released an advisory on Monday highlighting the health risks associated with flooding due to the weather disturbances. The advisory mentioned potential diseases such as leptospirosis, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, influenza-like diseases, malaria, and dengue that may arise from these conditions.

The DOH emphasized the importance of vigilance and safety against these health risks in their statement. They advised the public to ensure the quality of drinking water, properly cook and store food, wear suitable clothing, supervise children to prevent them from playing in floodwaters, and maintain hygiene by washing hands regularly.

Additional recommendations included proper waste disposal, seeking medical consultation upon experiencing symptoms, preparing emergency kits, staying updated with weather reports, and adhering to local government notices.

The heavy rainfall, attributed to the shear line, has affected most of the region. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued an orange rainfall warning for Eastern Samar and Leyte provinces on Monday noon due to easterlies, which are east-to-west winds common near the equator.

The orange warning indicates rainfall between 15 millimeters (mm) and 30 mm per hour, expected to continue for the next two hours. This volume of rainfall can equate to filling four 20-gallon water containers per square meter in an hour.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Samar, Biliran, and Southern Leyte are under a yellow rainfall warning, indicating rainfall between 7.5 mm and 15 mm per hour, also expected to persist for two hours.