‘Rat Fever’ Outbreak in Kerala Claims 3 More Lives

Officials have asked people across the state to not delay in seeking treatment, if they are exhibiting the symptoms.

(Photo: The News Minute)

Over Saturday and Sunday, another three people in Kerala have died of ‘rat fever’ or leptospirosis. There has been an outbreak of the disease following the devastating floods that lashed the state in August, with at least 15 deaths reported so far.

Vijeesh (34) and Saleemsha (42) from Kozhikode, and Prameela, a 42-year-old woman from Malappuram, succumbed to the disease in the last 72 hours.

As of Monday, 3 September, about 68 suspected cases have been reported in the state, according to The News Minute.

On 28 August, the state Health Department issued an alert in the following 5 districts after the sudden increase in suspected cases of leptospirosis in these regions:

• Thrissur
• Palakkad
• Kozhikode
• Malappuram
• Kannur

Alerts have been issued in most of the districts. We are beginning to suspect that though people were instructed to take preventive measures and given doxycycline (antibiotic) tablets for the same, many seem to not have taken the tablets, which is why we are probably seeing such a high influx of cases now.

Additional Chief Secretary Rajeev Sadanand to <i>The News Minute </i>

Sadanand said that another reason could be that a greater number of people in the state were being exposed to the disease. He added that the antibiotic, doxycycline, is only effective if the person takes it before contracting the illness, and not after.

Meanwhile, officials have asked people across the state to not delay in seeking treatment, if they feel that they are exhibiting the symptoms.

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria leptospira, which humans can contract through either direct contact with an animal, for instance through the body fluids (usually urine) of the infected animal, or through contact with contaminated soil or water.

The symptoms of the disease include:

• high-grade fever
• excessive fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• severe muscle pain

(With inputs from The News Minute)