MANILA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Friday expressed concern over the growing number of cases of leptospirosis, a deadly disease obtained by wading in flood waters that contain the urine and waste of infected rats, in Metro Manila and provinces still flooded due to torrential rains dumped by two previous tropical cyclones.

    "We are really concerned, we cannot deny that, but we are not alarmed. Nothing will happen if we get alarmed," Philippine Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a press conference.

    The Philippine health department reported that 89 persons have died in Metro Manila due to leptospirosis and that case incidences have risen in the past two weeks. There have also been reports of rising cases of leptospirosis in provinces affected by floods.

    Remonde said government wants to clear the evacuation centers because "the longer people stay there the more susceptible they are to the spread of diseases."

    But he admitted that this is difficult because there are areas where flood waters are not easily drained and garbage continues to litter many flooded areas.

    Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the health department to field more health teams and expand its rural service program to tap more health workers who can attend to the increasing leptospirosis cases.