A LAWMAKER on Monday urged the Department of Health (DoH) to beef up its contingencies to respond to diseases that typically occur during the hot season, such as cholera, chikungunya and Zika virus, warning that the coming El Niño season could be a "hotbed for epidemics."

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said tropical diseases can be problematic, citing global studies showing a spike between 2.5 percent and 28 percent in cases during El Niño activities.

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