Kerala: The death toll due to leptospirosis, commonly called ‘rat fever’, is mounting in the flood-battered Kerala. In a recent case, five people died of rat fever in the state of Thiruvananthapuram.
The disease was confirmed among 115 patients and 141 people had sought treatment for suspected symptoms. The Health Department has decided to intensify the drive against leptospirosis (rat fever) which claimed five deaths.
Leptospirosis, or rat fever, is a bacterial infection that people can contract from animals.“It affects the kidneys and liver severely and is often accompanied by jaundice.
Deaths were reported from Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Malappuram districts. The highest number of cases were reported from Kozhikode districts.
Over 60 lakh preventive tablets were distributed in the flood-affected areas in anticipation of the outbreak of leptospirosis. With water still remaining in some parts of the flood-affected areas, the possibility of vector-borne diseases is high.
A high alert has been issued in Kerala since this disease is claiming lives.
[source_without_link]SIASAT NEWS[/source_without_link]