By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – Leptospirosis cases fell 36 percent from Sept. 3 to 16, while the number of provinces and highly urbanized cities exceeding epidemic thresholds dropped to 18 as of Sept. 30, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
The DOH’s latest surveillance report recorded 2,489 cases during the two-week period, down from 3,867 cases from Aug. 20 to Sept. 2.
The number of areas exceeding epidemic thresholds also fell to 18 provinces and highly urbanized cities across seven regions, from 29 areas across eight regions in the previous report.
Despite the recent decline, cumulative cases reached 12,654 as of Sept. 30, 49 percent higher than the 8,511 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.
The case fatality rate, however, dropped to 5.25 percent from 10.56 percent during the same period last year.
“Recent surveillance continues to indicate that the surge may be easing,” the DOH said, while noting that reporting delays may still affect the latest case count.
The agency continues to coordinate with local governments on screening and providing prophylaxis to people exposed to floodwater.
Its Centers for Health Development are also mobilizing and reallocating resources to meet doxycycline requirements of health facilities and local health centers responding to leptospirosis cases.
As of Oct. 5, the DOH said the centers had distributed a total of 1,677,300 doxycycline capsules to affected areas based on identified health needs.
Another 40,812 capsules remain available at the centers and the National Warehouse as buffer stocks for continuing and emerging requirements.
The DOH said 45 leptospirosis fast lanes remain operational in hospital emergency departments across the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Region 4-B (Mimaropa) and Bicol to facilitate timely assessment and treatment of patients. (PNA) | PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
