Floods caused by rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon in the last two weeks have resulted in a rise of 197 patients in Manila, with five reported dead from leptospirosis, city mayor Francisco ''Isko'' Moreno Domagoso said Wednesday.

Some hospitals in Manila are nearing full capacity but there is supply of doxycyline, a medicine prescribed by doctors to people who have been exposed to flood waters.

Domagoso said Ospital ng Maynila's emergency room, which has a capacity of 40 patients, numbered 69 as of Wednesday morning.

"Kahit gaano kalaki yung emergency room ng Ospital ng Maynila, I can honestly say that our situation is we are now being overwhelmed by the infection ng ating mga pasyente na infected ng leptospirosis," the mayor said.

To decongest the emergency rooms, the city has activated the Manila Infectious Disease Control Center (MIDCC) at Santa Ana Hospital, which has a 17-bed capacity for leptospirosis patients — 10 of which were already occupied as of Wednesday.

The Mayor also directed the opening of additional wards in other city hospitals to accommodate the surge.

Malacañang on Wednesday said 33 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals have activated fast lanes for leptospirosis patients amid an increase in cases following recent flooding caused by the southwest monsoon.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the hospitals are located in Metro Manila and four other regions in Luzon. PHS