Eastern Visayas: Eastern Visayas registered an uptick in leptospirosis cases in the first six weeks of 2025 to 15 from nine cases in the same period in 2024, due to flooding brought by frequent heavy rains since late last year.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jelyn Lopez-Malibago, the information officer of the Department of Health (DOH) 8 (Eastern Visayas), reported that the cases were detected in the provinces of Leyte, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, as well as Tacloban City. She noted that there were no clusters of cases and no fatalities, attributing this to increased awareness about the disease and improved health-seeking behavior among the public.

Leptospirosis is contracted from floodwaters, vegetation, or moist soil contaminated with the bacteria leptospira, which is commonly spread through the infected urine or feces of rats. Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills, red eyes, jaundice, muscle pain, severe headache, and reduced urine production.

Malibago emphasized the importance of avoiding wading in floodwaters and advised wearing protective gear such as boots and gloves if contact with floodwaters is unavoidable. The DOH also advised the public to drain potentially contaminated water when possible, control rats in households using traps or poison, and maintain cleanliness in the house.

The health department urged those who develop a fever within two days after wading in floodwaters to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health center or consult a doctor to prevent complications.