Gampaha tops rat fever deaths

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The number of Leptospirosis (rat fever) cases reported from Sri Lanka during the last 10 months is 5,994 while 181 persons have died from the disease, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

The disease shows a growth of 172 per cent this year. The most number of deaths has been reported from Gampaha district which is 39, he said.

He said 700 rat fever cases have been reported from Gampaha district during the last 10 months.

Twenty three deaths have been reported from the Colombo district while the number of rat fever cases reported is 862.

The number of deaths due to rat fever in the Kurunegala district is 22 while 595 rat fever cases have been reported, the spokesman said.

The Ministry has identified several high risk MOH divisions in different districts. They are Gampaha, Colombo, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Matale and Hambantota.

About 83 per cent of patients infected with rat fever are males and the majority are in the age group of 40 and 44. About 63 per cent have got infected with rat fever while working in paddy fields and 45 per cent are persons engaged in work related to agriculture.

Between five to 30 patients who get rat fever die from the disease. Rat fever is a common disease in Third World countries, the spokesman said. The Epidemiology Unit of the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry, Urban Development Ministry, Agricultural Ministry and Local Government and Provincial Council Ministry conducted a meeting to draw a plan to fight rat fever.