DOH says over 1,000 leptospirosis cases since January, 99 dead

Ninety-nine persons have died of leptospirosis as of the latest count this year, the Department of Health announced on Thursday.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "24 Oras", 1,030 cases of leptospirosis have been recorded since the start of the year.

The number of leptospirosis cases between January and June this years has rises by 41 percent compared to the number during the same period last year.

"Of course, it is a cause for alarm. But that's really not much of a problem because the support is there," Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on Thursday.

Asked if it was the first time that the rate of increase was so high, Duque said, "No."

"There have been in the past a huge number of leptospirosis cases. Again, this is determined a great deal by the length of the rainy season," Duque said. —NB, GMA News