Philippines sees 5,486 leptospirosis cases as DOH prepares for more

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said that there have been 5,486 leptospirosis patients recorded across the Philippines from January to August 27.

While the rate of cases has so far been lower compared to the same time period in the previous year, DOH officials expect the number to increase in the coming weeks.

The bacteria that causes leptospirosis has an incubation period of up to two weeks,

According to DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa, the current leptospirosis tally of 5,486 from January to August 27 is 23% lower than the 7,163 cases during the same time period in 2025.

However, the DOH is monitoring several regions with the highest number of leptospirosis cases. The Cordillera Administrative Region so far has the highest number of leptospirosis cases at 542, followed by Metro Manila at 521, then Central Luzon at 391 as of August 22.

“Binuksan na rin natin yung leptospirosis fast lane, ito po ay nandoon sa 33 DOH hospitals nandoon sa apektadong regions,” DOH Secretary Edwin Mercado said in a press conference.

(We have opened the leptospirosis fast lane in 33 DOH hospitals in the affected regions.)

Mercado said that these hospitals were in the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the National Capital Region.

San Lazaro Hospital recently experienced a surge of leptospirosis cases, with the emergency room operating at 300% to 500% of its capacity.

The Health Secretary said that they are working to augment the manpower. Some hospitals have offered to take in mild-case patients from crowded hospitals, Balboa said, adding that they were keeping track of bed capacities across health centers.

“May sugat man o wala, at may sintomas man o wala, ay dapat po na pumunta na sa pinakamalapit na health center para maagapan at mabigyan ng tamang advice ng ating mga health workers,” Balboa said.

(Whether you have a wound or not, whether or not you have symptoms, you should go to the nearest health center to seek treatment early and be given the right advice by our health workers.) –NB, GMA News