A 27-year-old fisherman from Barangay San Nicolas West, Agoo, La Union, died after being confined for two days in a hospital due to leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection often linked to wading in floodwaters.

Mark Edison Doctolero experienced body pains, difficulty urinating, high fever, and back pain before passing away. His death certificate confirmed leptospirosis as the cause.

According to his relatives, Doctolero had a wound on his foot and could not avoid entering floodwaters after their home and yard were submerged during the recent tropical cyclones #CrisingPH, #DantePH, and #EmongPH.

“Baha kasi dito, kahit saan ka pumunta mataas ang baha kaya ganun,” Josephine Sarmiento, the victim's grandmother, said.

In Ilocos Norte, the Provincial Health Office reported four leptospirosis deaths this year, as of August 14, 2025. All are farmers from San Nicolas, Vintar, and Nueva Era.

The province has logged 33 cases from January 1 to the first week of August, lower than the same period last year.

Data from the Center for Health Development (CHD) Region 1 shows a trend. From January 1 to August 2, 2025, the region recorded 164 leptospirosis cases, a 135 percent increase from 70 cases in the same period in 2024. The death toll has also climbed to 21.

“Sa ngayon ay nagpalabas na tayo ng direktiba sa lahat ng ating DOH hospital na magtalaga ng fast lane para sa leptospirosis, itong mga fast lane na ito, dito didiretso ang mga kababayan natin na may sintomas ng leptospirosis para mas mabilis silang mabigyan ng medical attention,” CHD-1 spokesperson Dr. Rheuel Bobis, said.