The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported a 31-percent increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases during the first two weeks of October, although the nationwide total remained lower than the figure recorded during the same period last year.
Based on the latest DOH surveillance report, ILI cases reached 15,042 from October 1 to 14, up from 11,517 recorded during the preceding two-week period.
Despite the recent increase, cumulative ILI cases stood at 139,013 as of October 28, representing a 19-percent decline from the 171,506 cases reported during the corresponding period in 2025.
The DOH said the case fatality rate remained stable at 0.06 percent.
Western Visayas, Mimaropa and Central Visayas registered the highest percentage increases in ILI cases among the country’s regions.
The health department also placed 17 provinces and highly urbanized cities across 10 regions under heightened surveillance due to rising infections, with most of the identified areas located in the National Capital Region.
Leptospirosis cases decline
Meanwhile, the DOH recorded a 54-percent drop in leptospirosis cases during the same two-week period.
Cases fell to 554 from October 1 to 14, compared with 1,198 reported from September 17 to 30.
However, the cumulative number of leptospirosis infections reached 14,016 as of October 28, a 44-percent increase from the 9,707 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Despite the higher cumulative total, the disease’s case fatality rate declined to 5.46 percent from 10.24 percent in 2025.
The DOH also reported that the number of provinces and highly urbanized cities flagged for increased leptospirosis cases had dropped to five across five regions.
Health authorities said monitoring would continue to determine whether the recent decline in infections could be sustained.
Dengue infections increase by 6%
The DOH also reported a 6-percent increase in dengue cases, with 23,842 infections recorded from October 1 to 14, compared with 22,575 during the preceding two weeks.
Despite the increase, cumulative dengue cases remained below last year’s levels.
As of October 28, the country had recorded 229,754 dengue cases, down 17 percent from the 275,685 infections reported during the corresponding period in 2025.
The dengue case fatality rate stood at 0.39 percent.
According to the DOH, cumulative dengue cases have remained below epidemic thresholds since the beginning of the year.
However, the agency identified 23 provinces and highly urbanized cities across 12 regions experiencing localized increases in infections or exceeding established surveillance thresholds.
The DOH continues to monitor influenza-like illnesses, leptospirosis and dengue, particularly in areas reporting increases in cases, to assess emerging health risks and guide appropriate public health responses.
