The number of leptospirosis cases in the Philippines has fallen from last year’s level, but the Department of Health (DOH) is preparing for a possible increase in hospital admissions following recent flooding.
The country recorded 5,486 leptospirosis cases from Jan. 4 to Aug. 26, 2026, down 23 percent from the 7,163 cases reported during the same period in 2025, the DOH said Friday.
DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa said the National Capital Region (NCR), Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon recorded the highest cumulative numbers of cases.
In Metro Manila alone, authorities had recorded 521 patients as of Aug. 27, Balboa said during a press briefing at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City.
“Dito sa NCR po, binabantayan natin yung mga areas na nakikita natin may mas mataas na kaso. At sa itong nakita natin itong Aug. 27 as of yesterday po, 521 na ang pasyente na naitala dito sa Metro Manila,” Balboa said.
Of the NCR cases, 158 patients were admitted to San Lazaro Hospital.
Balboa said the DOH expects hospitalizations to increase over the next two weeks because of the incubation period of the bacteria that causes leptospirosis.
To prepare for the expected increase, the DOH activated dedicated leptospirosis fast lanes in 33 DOH-retained hospitals in affected regions.
The agency also established inter-hospital referral networks to help prevent overcrowding in tertiary hospitals.
Under the system, specialized facilities such as the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Philippine General Hospital will coordinate step-down care for recovering patients. This will allow intensive care and dialysis resources to remain available for patients with severe cases.
DOH Assistant Secretary Lester Tan urged people who had waded through floodwaters to undergo medical evaluation within 24 to 48 hours, regardless of whether they have open wounds or visible symptoms.
“Ang maagang diagnosis at treatment sa loob po ng dalawang araw mula na magsimula ang mga sintomas ay makakatulong po upang maiwasan ang mga komplikasyon ng sakit at ang pagka-ospital,” Tan said.
Tan warned that untreated leptospirosis can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, meningitis and multi-organ failure.
The DOH said government health centers, local government health facilities and DOH hospitals have adequate supplies of post-exposure prophylactic antibiotics, including doxycycline.
The antibiotic must be taken under a physician’s prescription, the agency said.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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