Central Visayas was among the regions that recorded the sharpest increases in flu-like illnesses as nationwide cases climbed 31 percent in the first half of October, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The country logged 15,042 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) from Oct. 1 to 14, up from 11,517 in the preceding two weeks, the DOH reported Wednesday.
Western Visayas, Mimaropa or Region 4-B, and Central Visayas posted the highest percentage increases among the regions.
Despite the recent rise, cumulative ILI cases reached 139,013 as of Oct. 28, down 19 percent from 171,506 recorded during the same period last year.
The case fatality rate remained at 0.06 percent.
The DOH placed 17 provinces and highly urbanized cities in 10 regions under heightened surveillance, most of them in the National Capital Region.
Meanwhile, leptospirosis cases dropped 54 percent to 554 from Oct. 1 to 14, compared with 1,198 cases recorded from Sept. 17 to 30.
However, cumulative infections reached 14,016 as of Oct. 28, 44 percent higher than the 9,707 cases reported during the same period in 2025.
The fatality rate for leptospirosis declined to 5.46 percent from 10.24 percent last year. The number of provinces and highly urbanized cities flagged for rising cases also fell to five across five regions.
The DOH said it would continue monitoring the disease to determine whether the decline in new cases would be sustained.
Dengue infections, on the other hand, increased 6 percent to 23,842 from Oct. 1 to 14, up from 22,575 in the previous two weeks.
Cumulative dengue cases stood at 229,754 as of Oct. 28, 17 percent lower than the 275,685 recorded during the same period last year. The case fatality rate was 0.39 percent.
Although nationwide dengue cases have remained below epidemic thresholds since the start of the year, the DOH flagged 23 provinces and highly urbanized cities in 12 regions for localized increases and breaches of established thresholds.
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