RAT FEVER
CLAIMS TEN LIVES IN THREE WEEKS IN POLONNARUWA
Ten persons died of rat fever while seeking medical treatment at the Polonnaruwa General Hospital during the last three week period, Polonnaruwa Regional Health Services Director Dr. Sarath Jayasinghe said at a media briefing yesterday. Currently, 81 patients in the Polonnaruwa District were diagnosed as rat fever patients and the number of deaths due to rat fever is relatively higher than deaths recorded in 2012, he said. This media briefing was conducted to create an awareness among the general public about rat fever, necessary treatment and precautionary measures to control the spreading the disease.
The health services director specially cautioned the farmers working in the fields and advised to seek for preliminary treatment. People have been already made aware of the disease through the PHIS of district and 400,000 antibiotic tablets have been supplied to the farmer organisation to be distributed among farmers as precautionary measure. However farmers’ ignorance to take the tablets have caused to increase number of patients and deaths due to rat fever, he said.
He stressed the need of taking the tablets before starting work in the fields. Epidemiologist Dr. Sanjaya Senevirathna and Polonnaruwa Medical Health Officer Indika Dangampola were also present at the briefing.
People have been already made aware of the disease through the PHIS of district and 400,000 antibiotic tablets have been supplied to the farmer organisation to be distributed among farmers as precautionary measure