Death toll from deadly rat fever reaches 8 in S. Philippines

The death toll from the deadly rat fever outbreak that struck flood-hit areas in southern Philippines reached eight while hundreds were infected, local health officials said Wednesday. Five people have already dead while as many as 200 were confined in hospitals in the city of Cagayan de Oro. While in the nearby city of Iligan, a hard-hit area by floods, three died and less than 100 people have been infected with the deadly disease, said regional health minister Jaime Bernadas. Health authorities on Monday declared an outbreak of the deadly rat fever leptospirosis, a fatal animal-borne disease that can result in high fever, internal bleeding and organ failure. The death toll from tropical storm Washi currently stands at 1, 257 with many still believed missing. Washi brought massive rains, causing flooding in many areas in central and southern Philippines starting on Dec. 16 last year.