A total of 10,936 suspected leptospirosis cases have been reported as of September 16, 2026, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The figure is 38 percent higher than the 7,931 cases recorded during the same period in 2025, the DOH said.
Over the past three to four weeks, cases were 116 percent higher than those recorded during the preceding five to six weeks, pushing the national figures beyond the epidemic threshold.
At present, 46 Philippine Health Information System (PHIS) facilities across 10 regions have breached the epidemic threshold and are showing increasing growth rates. The National Capital Region, Region II, and Calabarzon have the highest number of PHIS facilities included on the list.
Flooding drives increase
Continuous rains and flooding brought about by climate change remain the primary drivers of the increase in cases, accounting for 66 percent, or 7,242, of the cumulative cases.
Males accounted for a larger proportion of cases, with 8,640, or 79 percent, affected. Most were from the working-age group, with a median age of 33 years, reflecting increased exposure to floodwaters.
The cumulative case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 5.1 percent, lower than the 10.55-percent CFR recorded in 2025.
Despite the lower CFR this year, 42 percent of the total deaths occurred during the morbidity weeks when the epidemic threshold was breached.
The DOH cautioned the public to immediately seek medical advice after exposure to floodwaters, whether symptoms are present.
Cases must be identified as early as possible, and treatment should be initiated even without laboratory confirmation when leptospirosis is clinically suspected, as delays in treatment can rapidly lead to complications, including death.
DOH strengthens response
The DOH said it continues to strengthen patient navigation and referral coordination across its hospitals and partner government health facilities, including the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, San Lazaro Hospital, and East Avenue Medical Center.
The measures are intended to facilitate timely admission and access to appropriate levels of care.
The existing DOH Leptospirosis Tracker has also been expanded into a Unified Leptospirosis and Dengue Case Tracker to support:
monitoring of hospital capacity and caseload;
identification of referral, surge, and resource requirements; and
timely operational decision-making and response.
Hospital bed occupancy and patients’ clinical status are also being continuously monitored to identify facilities that are at or approaching capacity and guide patient referrals, surge measures, and resource augmentation.
The DOH underscored the need for intensified public health advisories on preventing leptospirosis, including avoiding exposure to floodwaters and seeking early medical consultation following exposure.
It also called for continued coordination with respective Centers for Health Development (CHDs) to assess needs and provide technical assistance, particularly in areas at increased risk of exposure and leptospirosis cases.
The DOH is also prepositioning doxycycline stocks in CHDs, particularly in flood-prone and high-risk areas, to ensure timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment when indicated.