By Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas registered an uptick in leptospirosis cases in the first six weeks of 2025 to 15 from nine cases in the same period in 2024, due to flooding brought by frequent heavy rains since late last year.
Jelyn Lopez-Malibago, information officer of the Department of Health (DOH) 8 (Eastern Visayas), said the cases were detected in the provinces of Leyte, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, as well as Tacloban City.
“There were no clusters of cases, and no one died due to leptospirosis. This is a result of high awareness about the disease and improved health-seeking behavior of people,” she said in an interview Wednesday.
Leptospirosis is contracted from floodwaters, vegetation, or moist soil that are contaminated with the bacteria leptospira, commonly spread through the infected urine or feces of rats.
Symptoms include fever, chills, red eyes, jaundice, muscle pain, severe headache, and little urine production.
“We are reminding people not to wade in floodwaters. But if it cannot be avoided, one should wear protective gear, such as boots and gloves,” Malibago said.
The DOH also reminded the public to drain potentially contaminated water, when possible, control rats in the household by using traps or poison, and maintain cleanliness in the house.
People who develop a fever two days after wading in floodwaters are advised to immediately go to the nearest health center or consult a doctor to avoid complications. (With reports from Gellian Ochida & Chrisfel Cardante, OJTs/PNA)
