Leptospirosis cases drop, but dengue on rise again
The daily average of leptospirosis cases plunged, as expected, in the past week from 200 a day to just 10 a day, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
“Leptospirosis cases went down to 10 cases per day from August 10 to 14, compared to the almost 200 cases a day during the week of August 3 to 9,” the DOH said in a statement on Saturday.
But the DOH said cases of dengue have again increased following the monsoon rains and typhoons in July.
Initial reports suggest that a total of 15,091 dengue cases were recorded from July 13 to July 26, the period when tropical cyclones “Crising,” “Dante” and “Emong” brought heavy rains and flash floods.
The number was seven percent higher than the 14,131 cases logged from June 29 to July 12.
“The DOH remains on alert for dengue cases in the country, and dengue fast lanes remain active in DOH hospitals,” it said.
Dengue is considered “hyperendemic” in the Philippines, with all four dengue virus serotypes circulating in all regions of the country, with surges reported mostly from June to February.
170,000 cases per year
From 2010 to 2014, official data show an average of 170,503 symptomatic cases and 750 deaths annually, translating to an incidence rate of about 178 per 100,000 population.
The data excludes figures arising from a supposed under-reporting that suggest an actual number of annual dengue episodes of 794,255 per year.
Like dengue, a usual increase in leptospirosis cases, a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through contact with water contaminated by the urine of infected animals, is also typical during the rainy season.
