Leptospirosis cases rising, 1,770 logged from Jan to Aug 27 – DOH

Leptospirosis and DOH. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday noted an increase in leptospirosis cases nationwide, recording 1,770 from January 1 to August 27.

This latest total, it also said, is 36 percent higher than the leptospirosis cases logged during the same period last year – which was 1,229.

In a report, the DOH enumerated the Top 3 regions with the most number of leptospirosis cases:

• Metro Manila – 378 (21 percent)
• Western Visayas – 210 (12 percent)
• Cagayan Valley – 195 (11 percent)

It likewise reported that 327 of the total leptospirosis cases were logged in the recent four-week period, or from July 31-August 27, and the three areas below registered the most number of infections:

• Metro Manila – 112
• Davao Region – 31
• Western Visayas – 29

Moreover, the DOH said that Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Regions (CAR) have already breached the alert and epidemic threshold for leptospirosis cases from January to August 27. However, the agency noted no clustering of cases across the country.

The DOH further reported that a sum of 244 deaths due to leptospirosis have been reported during the period, indicating a fatality rate of 13.8 percent. Specifically, it said 14 patients died in January; 11 in February; 23 in March; 32 in April; 29 in May and in June; 54 in July; and 52 in August.

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