10 dead from rat fever in Sri Lanka: Reports

Colombo: Ten people have died from and over 2000 are infected with rat fever in Sri Lanka so far this year, local media reports, quoting the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, said.

According to official statistics, 2198 patients were infected with rat fever till June 1, and the highest number of patients were reported from Ratnapura in south central Sri Lanka. According to the Epidemiology Unit, an increase in the number of patients was reported in January, February, and May.

There were over 500 patients in Ratnapura while in Kalutara, on the outskirts of Colombo, over 200 patients were reported to have contracted the diease.