After floods, rat fever hits Kerala

FRESH CONCERNS 28 people have died due to the disease, spread by contaminated water, since August 1 with 300 suspected cases; health dept asks the Centre to send more medicine

Flood-battered Kerala appears to be staring at an epidemic outbreak with as many as 28 people reported to have died of rat fever since August 1, including at least nine in one week, across the state.

A rat-fever or leptospirosis alert has been issued by the state health directorate in five districts after 300 suspected cases were reported in the last three days, a senior health official said.

The five districts are Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur, Malappuram and Ernakulam, from where most of the suspected cases were reported.

Rat fever is a zootonic disease -tranmitted from animals to humans -- spread by contamination of water sources by rodent urine during flooding. Its main symptoms are high fever, headache, chills, abdominal pain and rashes. Elderly people suffering from kidney and liver ailments are the most susceptible.

At least 60 people from Kozhikode district, which has yet to recover fully from the nipah virus outbreak that killed 17 people in June, reported sick with symptoms of rat fever in the last few days. Twenty-eight of these were subsequently confirmed as leptospirosis cases, the health official quoted above said.

“Some cases come up during monsoon but this time there is a spurt in leptospirosis cases. Out of 60 people who complained of symptoms, 28 were confirmed later,” said Kozhikode district

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Doctors monitor the health of flood victims at a relief camp in Kerala.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD

Bites or scratches from infected rodents

Handling rodents with the disease Consuming food or drink contaminated with the bacteria Does not spread from one person to another medical officer, Dr V Jayasree.

The state health department has approached the Union ministry to supply more medicines to contain the disease. It advised those affected to desist from selfmedication. People in flood-hit areas and those engaged in cleaning work have been asked to take two 100mg doxycycline tablets after the meal twice a week.

SYMPTOMS

Fever; vomiting; headache; muscle pain; joint pain; rash and swollen lymph nodes Symptoms usually occur 3-10 days after exposure to an infected rodent, but can be

TREATMENT

“We are keeping utmost vigil. All flood-hit people and relief workers have been advised to take enough precautions. The Union health ministry has promised us all help,” said state health minister K K Shailaja.

In Kozhikode, state excise minister T P Ramakrishnan popped a doxycyline tablet on Saturday after a media conference, urging

delayed as long as 3 weeks Within 2-4 days after fever onset, a rash may appear on the hands and feet

One or more joints may be become swollen, red, or painful people to take enough precautions. Three relief workers were among the dead.

Shailaja said health workers had been directed to monitor people approaching them with suspected rat fever symptoms, collect their data and ensure they are adequately treated.

“It is a big challenge but we will overcome it,” she said.