THE Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a 36-percent increase in the number of leptospirosis cases in the country from January to August 2022.In a statement, the DOH said 1,770 leptospirosis cases were logged from January 1 to August 27, compared to the 1,299 cases during the same period in 2021.The National Capital Region (NCR), Western Visayas and Cagayan Valley had the most number of cases.Among the most recent cases or those recorded from July 31 to August 27, the majority were from Metro Manila, Davao Region and Western Visayas.The DOH said 244 cases died due to the disease since January.It said Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region and Cordillera have exceeded their leptospirosis “alert and epidemic threshold” within the past morbidity weeks from July 31 to August 27.DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier urged the public to wear protective gear such as boots when passing flooded areas.She told the public to immediately seek professional health treatment when experiencing symptoms such as high fever, muscle pain, eye redness, chills, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea or yellowish skin discoloration. (SunStar Philippines)