Rat fever claims 14 lives

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry warns the public on the possible outbreak of Leptospirosis (Rat Fever) during the two months. Leptospirosis popularly known as Rat Fever is rapidly spreading in Sri Lanka and 14 persons have already died up to February this year.

The total number of Leptospirosis patients reported from the country up to February is 433.

The disease had shown a rapid increase since 2003 and this year there is a 26 per cent increase over last year, Deputy Director General, Health Services, Dr. Maheepala Herath said.

Addressing a special press briefing at the Epidemiology Unit, Colombo, Dr. Herath said that in 2007, there were 2,195 Leptospirosis patients of which 34 died. 80 percent of those affected with Rat fever are farmers and those engaged in cultivation.

There are nine districts in Sri Lanka which have been badly hit by Leptospirosis and they are the Gampaha, Matara, Kegalle, Kalutara, Matale, Galle, Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala.

Gampaha recorded the highest number of patients (311) in 2007 and there are already 29 cases reported from the district. The Matara district is next where the number of patients reported in 2007 was 289 and this year 29 patients have already sought treatment. Kegalle district recorded 247 patients in 2007 and 15 patients so far, he added.

Director, Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said that those at risk should contact the Public Health Inspector (PHI) or MOH of the area in order to obtain the relevant antibiotic.

This method is not a treatment but only a precaution recommended for the people who are being exposed to the bacteria.

According to Dr. Abeysinghe the abrupt onset of high fever, chilliness, conjunctival suffusion, muscle tenderness (notable in calf and lumbar areas), intense headache and jaundice are common symptoms of Leptospirosis.

It is very important to seek medical treatment especially from State hospitals as soon as a vulnerable person gets the above symptoms. Vulnerable persons are farmers, people working in mines, paddy fields, marsh lands, canals, drains etc. and the people who swim or play in contaminated water or marsh lands.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic bacteria and live in the kidneys of animals such as rats, pigs, cattle, rodents, canines and wild mammals.

It comes through soil, water or food through their urine and enters into human body through cuts, wounds, nasal, oral, eye or mucous membranes. Ingestion of contaminated water can also lead to infection. Symptoms normally appear within 5 - 14 days following exposure to the germ.

The range is 2 to 30 days. The disease can be completely cured if treated on time but it is difficult to save the life of patients who seek medical treatment when the disease had advanced where renal failure, heart failuure and other symptoms appear.