DOH: Cases of leptospirosis may still rise in coming days

The Department of Health (DOH) has warned that leptospirosis cases may continue to climb in the next few days, following recent flooding in many parts of the country.

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Leptospirosis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, is commonly contracted through contact with floodwaters contaminated by animal urine, such as rodents.

Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the disease’s incubation period is one to two weeks, which means infections may still surface from the weekend of July 26 when heavy rains and floods hit, enhanced by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong.

“Counting from that weekend, we are only a week in. Cases could still increase. We hope they won't,” Domingo said in a Dobol B TV interview on Saturday.