Leptospirosis Deaths Rise in the Philippines, Raising Concerns Over Tropical Disease

MANILA, Philippines — San Lazaro Hospital in Manila has reported an increase in deaths due to leptospirosis, with 31 fatalities recorded this year. This marks an increase from the 27 deaths reported on Sept. 14, with four additional fatalities confirmed in the subsequent four days. The hospital also admitted 15 new leptospirosis cases yesterday, bringing the total number of admissions to 747. Among the new cases, one patient is in the intensive care unit (ICU), and six are undergoing hemodialysis. According to infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, the most common cause of death from leptospirosis is pulmonary hemorrhage. Solante, who also heads San Lazaro’s adult infectious diseases and tropical medicine department, explained that pulmonary hemorrhage occurs due to bleeding in the lungs. The Department of Health (DOH) reported 8,317 leptospirosis cases nationwide, a 14 percent increase from the 7,280 cases recorded last year. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. In the Philippines, particularly during the rainy season, the incidence of leptospirosis tends to rise due to the proliferation of floods and stagnant water, factors exacerbated by the country's tropical climate and frequent flooding events.