DOH: Leptospirosis, dengue cases up in July

Cases of leptospirosis and dengue increased last month amid the series of raining and flooding that affected certain parts of the country, data by the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

From July 16 to July 29, DOH said there were 199 new leptospirosis cases recorded—about 18% higher than the 170 cases logged, two weeks prior.

Ilocos Region and Central Luzon were observed having “continuous increase in cases in the recent six weeks,” after reporting 26 cases at most over the same period.

Leptospirosis cases in the Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Bangsamoro Region, and the National Capital Region (NCR), meanwhile, also went up.

DOH said NCR had the largest case increase, showing a two-week growth rate of 103%.

A total of 47 deaths due to the bacterial disease were also recorded from July 18 to 29. Majority of which came from the NCR with 13 deaths (28%).

A total of 2,335 cases of leptospirosis were logged nationally from January 1 to July 29. This was 53% higher compared to the 1,531 cases during the same period in 2022.

Dengue

The Health department also registered a one percent increase in dengue cases from July 2 to July 15.

During this period, 9,877 dengue cases were reported, while there were 9,782 cases logged two weeks prior.

Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and East Visayas all showed upticks with 1,159 cases recorded at most.

Cagayan Valley had the highest dengue increase of 46% during that time, according to DOH.

Despite this, dengue cases posted until July 2023 were lower compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

A total of 90,320 cases of dengue were reported all over the country from January 1 to July 29—-a 22% decrease than the 116,032 cases reported during the same period in 2022.

“Cases may continue to increase with late reports and due to the heavy rains and flooding in the country in the past weeks,” DOH said in a statement, pertaining to both leptospirosis and dengue.—LDF, GMA Integrated News