Disease Outbreak Sparks Fears in Philippines’ Storm-Hit Mindanao

The Philippines is struggling to help about 429,000 people on the southern island of Mindanao after the country’s worst storm in three years as the first outbreaks of disease are reported and more rains forecast.

Tropical Storm Washi, locally known as Sendong, killed 1,257 people on Mindanao, many as they slept, as rivers overflowed and inundated coastal cities in the early hours of Dec. 17. As anger over a slow government response mounted, Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos said by phone yesterday that five people have died from leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that spreads in water contaminated with rat urine.