THE Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) has recorded two new leptospirosis deaths, bringing the total to five in 2025.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, said the new fatalities include a 43-year-old male from Barangay 21 and a 57-year-old female from Barangay Handumanan.
She said the 43-year-old male victim was the fourth fatality. He had waded in floodwaters on May 13 and 24.
The victim was admitted to the hospital on May 25.
Three days before his admission, he experienced fever along with multiple episodes of diarrhea. He passed away on June 3.
Tan said the 57- year-old female victim was the fifth fatality, who also with a history of wading in water in first week of June.
She said the victim was admitted to the hospital on June 8. Four days before her admission, she experienced difficulty breathing and fever with an occasional cough.
She added that on the day of admission, the victim was awake but dyspneic and tachypneic, with jaundice. She expired on June 9.
The first fatality was a 52-year-old drainage cleaner from Barangay Villamonte, the second was a 47-year-old man from Barangay Banago, and the third was a 17-year-old male resident of Barangay Bata.
CHO records showed that leptospirosis cases in Bacolod City increased by 25 percent from January to June 7, 2025, compared to the same period last year.
Tan said they recorded 10 leptospirosis cases, including five deaths, during that period.
In 2024, there were eight cases with two fatalities during the same period.
Of the 10 cases this year, Barangays Banago and Handumanan topped the list with two cases each, followed by Barangays 12, 21, Villamonte, Estefania, Mansilingan, and Bata with one case each.
Tan said the most common reasons for complications and death include delayed health-seeking behavior and denial of leptospirosis exposure.
The CHO urged Bacolodnons who have a history of wading in or coming into contact with water or soil possibly contaminated with leptospira from rat or animal urine to visit their nearest health center or private doctor for prophylaxis as soon as possible. (MAP)