Health Secretary Enrique Ona today reiterated his advice to the public not to wade in floodwaters and to wear rubber boots when walking in flooded streets to avoid leptospirosis, as the latest number of cases reported nationwide increased.

From January of this year up to June 25, there were 521 cases reported. This figure is 65.4 percent higher compared to the same period last year (315 cases). There were 38 deaths recorded.

Most of the cases came from Western Visayas (131 cases), the Bicol Region (64), and the Davao Region (56). Ages of cases ranged from less than one month to 72 years old. Majority (86.8%) of the cases were men. Most (20.7%) of the cases belonged to the more than 40 years age group.

“Leptospirosis is an infection commonly transmitted to humans from water that has been contaminated by animal urine (usually rats), and comes in contact with lesion in the skin, eyes, or with the mucous membranes,” the health chief explained. He added that the best defense against leptospirosis is to avoid wading in floodwater and to wear protective footwear, if wading cannot be avoided.

Health authorities said that one possible reason why Western Visayas recorded the most number of cases was that the region was endemic for leptospirosis. Hence, medical professionals and health workers have a high level of awareness of the disease’s signs and symptoms resulting in a high number of case detection. Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall and flooding in the Bicol and Davao regions this year may have contributed to the high number of leptospirosis cases in these regions.

Leptosporosis’ signs and symptoms include fever, chills, intense headache. In extreme cases, complications like meningitis, renal failure, respiratory distress, may arise and lead to death.

“The rainy season is just beginning, so we are reiterating our advise to the people to prevent leptospirosis by avoiding, as much as possible, wading in floodwaters, and to wear boots if it cannot be avoided,” Ona concluded.