Official: Leptospirosis outbreak in North Philippines under control

Leptospirosis outbreak in northern Philippine city of Olongapo has been under control even if death toll due to the disease rose to 11, a senior government official said Monday. Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona said that cases of leptospirosis in Olongapo City in Zambales province has already reached its peak of 631 as of Sunday. "We don't expect any increase anymore," he said in a news briefing. Leptospirosis outbreak hit Olongapo City after the massive flooding last month brought by southwest monsoon rain. Ona said that the 11 fatalities were equivalent to 1.7 percent case fatality rate, which is lower compared to severe cases of leptospirosis in the country. He said that 80 percent of those who were infected by the disease caused by the urine of infected animals, particularly rats, were males because they were the ones who waded in flood waters during the height of the weather disturbance in Zambales.