Negros Occidental and Bacolod City had 43 leptospirosis deaths and 42 dengue deaths this year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday, December 14.
There were 34 leptospirosis deaths in Negros Occidental and nine in Bacolod City.
The leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental where 225 from January 1 to December 3, or a 221 percent increase from last year, making it the topnotcher in Western Visayas, the DOH reported.
Bacolod City had 41 leptospirosis cases this year or an increase by 64 percent, it added.
Western Visayas had 596 leptospirosis cases with 81 deaths from January 1 to December 3 or an increase by 74 percent, DOH added.
Leptospirosis is caused by the entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters, vegetation, moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats, the DOH said.
Dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January 1 to December 3 were 5,319 with 29 deaths, or an increase by 798 percent compared to last year, the DOH added.
Bacolod City had 951 cases with 13 deaths or a 183 percent increase compared to last year, it said.
Western Visayas recorded 14,803 dengue cases and 82 deaths this year for an increase by 516 percent compared to 2021, the DOH said.
The dengue virus is transmitted by day biting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, the DOH added.*