DOH reports rise to 4,859 leptospiros cases since start of rainy season

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that there are currently 4,895 cases of leptospirosis since the beginning of the rainy season in the Philippines last June. According to DOH, after flooding in some areas of the country this past week, only one new case of leptospirosis has been recorded by the DOH from August 31 to September 4. “There’s a possibility that this will change since surveillance is continuous. This is still a big drop from the 1,147 cases from August 3 to August 9, a week after Cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong,” DOH added. Moreover, DOH assured the public that leptospirosis fast lanes were still open at several of its hospitals to immediately respond to cases. These Leptospirosis cases come from a bacterial infection transferred to humans through contact with water contaminated by the urine of infected animals, most of them coming from rodents. DOH mentioned that some symptoms one might have of leptospirosis include fever, headache, chills, back or leg pain and redness of the eyes.