Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it is closely monitoring seven regions after an increase in leptospirosis cases during a 13-day period. Six other areas also breached the epidemic threshold twice in the past four weeks, data showed.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a video message, DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa noted that the regions monitored for rising year-on-year cases are Soccsksargen, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Negros Island Region, Bicol Region, and Cagayan Valley. Meanwhile, intense monitoring is focused on the National Capital Region (NCR), Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region.
Data showed 6,253 leptospirosis cases have been recorded nationwide so far this year, reflecting a 12 percent drop from the 7,084 cases reported during the same period in 2025. However, cases spiked from August 2 to 15 with 824 cases, a 77-percent surge from the 465 cases reported from July 19 to August 1.
As of 6 p.m. on September 3, total leptospirosis bed capacity across 20 DOH hospitals in Metro Manila stood at 602, including 260 additional surge beds. Of this capacity, 562 beds are currently occupied. Active referrals and patient redistributions are ongoing to direct individuals, particularly those needing dialysis and higher-level care, to facilities with available space.
To manage prophylaxis demand, regional health offices have augmented 1.2 million capsules of doxycycline to affected areas to date. An additional 2.6 million capsules remain in stock across Centers for Health Development, along with 40,812 capsules in DOH-retained hospitals and medical centers in Metro Manila.
DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa reported an overall decline in national cases of water-borne diseases, influenza-like illnesses, and dengue for the first eight months of 2026, despite localized spikes observed in recent weeks. Acute bloody diarrhea cases dropped by 32 percent to 6,456 from the 9,520 cases recorded during the same period last year. Cases rose 15 percent between August 2 to 15, with 411 cases reported compared to 358 cases logged from July 19 to August 1.
Cholera cases dropped by 67 percent year-to-date, with 428 cases recorded compared to more than 1,283 during the same period in 2025. Despite the overall reduction, nationwide cholera cases increased by 40 percent from August 2 to 15, with 28 cases reported compared to 20 in the preceding two-week period.
Typhoid fever cases fell 41 percent to 10,708 from 18,014 in 2025. Recent bi-weekly data showed a 20 percent drop, with 590 cases recorded from August 2 to 15 compared to 740 from July 19 to August 1. The DOH highlighted rising case trends in the Bicol Region, Davao Region, and NCR relative to last year's figures.
Meanwhile, influenza-like illnesses reached 86,113 cases, reflecting a 22 percent reduction from the 110,978 cases logged during the same period last year. Bi-weekly figures showed a 7-percent rise to 5,847 cases on August 2 to 15, up from 5,450 cases the previous 13 days. Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao remain under close monitoring for year-on-year increases.
Dengue cases totaled 128,634, representing a 39 percent decrease from the 209,631 cases recorded during the same timeframe in 2025. Recent monitoring showed a 9-percent increase from August 2 to 15, recording 15,763 cases compared to 14,409 cases logged July 19 to August 1.
