ILOILO — Agricultural exposure has emerged as the leading risk factor in Iloilo’s leptospirosis cases this year, with farmers and farm workers accounting for 32 of the province’s 84 infections as the death toll doubled to 10, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
The 10 deaths recorded from Jan. 4 to Aug. 8 were already twice the five fatalities registered during the same period last year, even as overall cases dropped by 15 percent from 100 to 84.
The fatalities were recorded in Dingle and Dueñas towns with two each, and Dumangas, Oton, Barotac Nuevo, Zarraga, San Dionisio and Concepcion with one each, said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or soil and water contaminated with infected urine. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts or breaks in the skin or through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth.
Early symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pains, chills, eye redness, abdominal pain, jaundice, skin rashes and gastrointestinal symptoms.
IPHO’s case investigation showed that agricultural exposure accounted for the biggest share of infections, with 32 of the 84 cases linked to farming activities.
Another 18 were associated with flooding, 18 were classified under other exposures, while 14 had unknown exposure histories.
“Out of 84 cases, 32 are agriculture-related. So, probably mga farmers ini naton nga naga-ubog kag nagapananum sa ila farms,” Quiñon said.
Cases have been detected in 32 of Iloilo’s 42 municipalities and the component city of Passi. Tigbauan recorded the sharpest increase at 500 percent, with six cases this year compared with only one during the same period in 2025.
Quiñon urged farmers, farm workers and people exposed to floodwaters to seek leptospirosis prophylaxis, which can be requested free from rural health units (RHUs).
Those with open wounds who have already waded through floodwater or worked in potentially contaminated farms, however, should immediately consult a doctor because prophylaxis is no longer appropriate and treatment with antibiotics may already be necessary.
“Pangayo sa aton RHUs sang prophylaxis para sa leptospirosis. Pero kon may pilas, that is not anymore prophylaxis, kinahanglan na ang treatment,” Quiñon said.
People aged 40 and above accounted for the largest number of infections at 35, followed by those aged 20 to 29 with 23 cases, those aged 30 to 39 with 19, and those aged 10 to 19 with six.
Tigbauan had the highest number of infections with six, followed by Dumangas, Janiuay and Tubungan with five each.
Passi City, Dingle, Oton and Pototan recorded four cases each, while Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Dueñas, Leganes, Maasin and Zarraga had three each.
Alimodian, Barotac Viejo, Lambunao, Lemery, Miag-ao, Mina, Pavia, San Dionisio, San Enrique, Santa Barbara and Sara each recorded two cases.
Banate, Cabatuan, Calinog, Concepcion, Leon, New Lucena and San Joaquin had one case each.
The figures underscore the heightened occupational risk faced by people working in farms and other environments where exposure to contaminated soil or water is common, even as Iloilo’s overall leptospirosis caseload remains below last year’s level./PN
