Leptospirosis cases rise 22%

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 1,411 leptospirosis cases were reported in the country from Jan. 1 to Aug. 6, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH said the cases were 22 percent higher compared to the 1,157 reported during the same period last year.

The National Capital Region (NCR) logged most of the cases at 263; Western Visayas, 171, and Cagayan Valley, 169, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire told a press briefing.

“From July 10 to Aug. 6, 251 cases were recorded. The same regions had the highest number of cases, except Western Visayas. We have NCR, with 73 or 29 percent of the cases; Central Luzon, with 35 or 14 percent of the cases, and Cagayan Valley, 22 or nine percent of the cases,” Vergeire said.

Central Visayas and Davao breached the alert and epidemic threshold in the past four weeks. No clustering was recorded nationwide.

The DOH said 188 deaths due to leptospirosis were reported, a case fatality rate of 13.3 percent.

“We advise the public to take good care of themselves... We have this post-exposure prophylaxis so we don’t get sick of leptospirosis. Just visit the nearest health center so we can prevent infection,” Vergeire said.

Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira bacteria, which enters through wounds that come in contact with floodwaters, vegetation and moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.