Beware of rat fever

6 July 2011 02:34 pm Views - 3701

Rat fever is on the rise, the health ministry warned today quoting Government Epidemiology Unit (GEU). There had been a steady increase of the number of cases and deaths from the disease and it was still rising, it warned.

“The phenomena this year are that a number of deaths from Rat fever (Leptospirosis) have been reported from earlier un-detected sources such as kohila pits. Healthy persons who have gone into kohila pits to pluck kohila roots have infected with when their foot got injured with the spikes of kohila,” he said. 
The number of confirmed cases reported from 25 districts stood at 4,351 and the deaths at 56 by yesterday this year according to the GEU.

In the entire 2010, the number of rate fever cases reported was 4,545 and the deaths were 122. In 2009 it was 4,980 and 145 deaths respectively.
The number of patients of rat fever has also been increased steadily this year. From January to June it was 230, 571, 1,615, 760,667 and 480 respectively in addition to 28 cases only in the last four days.

Farmers are requested not to stay long hours in the stagnant or polluted water in paddy fields, canals and waterways as it is highly possible to get infected. If infected the patient must be rushed to the nearest hospital as Rat Fever (Leptospirosis) is fatal if not given proper medical attention on time. (SAJ)