Manila: The number of leptospirosis cases has reached 5,835 from Jan. 1 to Oct. 5, a 16 percent increase from the 5,050 cases reported during the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday. From Sept. 8 to 21, about 774 new cases were recorded, or twice as high as the 381 new cases reported from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7. "All regions, except Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga, have shown an increase in cases over the past three to four weeks up to Oct. 5," the DOH said. "While there have been 509 reported deaths thus far, the number is 11 percent lower than the 570 deaths recorded during the same period last year." The public is advised to avoid floodwater, wear protective gear when walking in the flood, and wash exposed skin to floodwater as more rains are expected to come. Source: Philippines News agency