Leptospirosis cases 36% higher than 2021 period — DOH

The Department of Health on Wednesday said that there were 1,770 leptospirosis cases reported from 1 January to 27 August, which is 36 percent higher compared to the reported cases during the same period in 2021.

Based on the data from the DOH, most of the leptospirosis cases were reported from the National Capital Region with 378 cases or 21 percent; Davao Region with 31 cases, and Cagayan Valley with 29 cases.

Most of the recently recorded cases were also recorded from the NCR, Western Visayas, and Davao Region.

Nationally, there were 244 deaths reported due to leptospirosis. Most of the deaths were reported in the months of July and August.

Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region have breached the alert and epidemic threshold within the past morbidity weeks during the same period, according to the Health department.

However, the DoH said there was no reported clustering of cases in the country.

Earlier, Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire advised the public to take precautionary measures to avoid being exposed to the disease.

Vergeire said people who have been exposed or come in contact with floodwaters with open wounds may take post-exposure prophylaxis.

"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," she said.