• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The death toll due to leptospirosis in Negros Occidental has risen to 31, according to reports of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and Bacolod City Health Office.
Negros Occidental has logged 17 deaths, while 14 were recorded in highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental have also risen to 128, as of September 30.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City logged 75 cases, compared 25 in the same period last, registering an increase of 200 percent, according to CHO reports said.
The Bacolod CHO said 70 percent of leptospirosis cases were due to exposure to contaminated water. Complications and deaths were blamed on delays in seeking medical care.
On the other hand, Murcia, and the cities of Talisay and Silay recorded 10 cases each, with seven fatalities.
Thirty of 31 Negros Occidental LGUs have one suspected case of leptospirosis, with 20 to 30 age group seeing the most number of cases, the PHO report also said.*