How one can get rat fever

This infectious disease is caused by bacteria called leptospires found in the kidneys of rodents, livestock (cattle and buffalo), canines and also wild mammals. The bacteria are transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans.

While some of the animals are natural hosts, when they excrete the bacteria through their urine and humans are exposed to contaminated water, soil or food, humans may become ‘incidental’ or ‘accidental’ hosts. The bacteria may enter humans through wounds or lesions in the skin or nasal, oral or eye mucous membranes.

Symptoms

The symptoms of rat fever appear within 5-14 days of exposure to the bacteria and range from mild flu-like illness to serious and sometimes fatal disease.

These symptoms include high fever, severe body aches, severe headaches, prostration (inability to get up), myalgia (pain in the muscles particularly neck, back and calves), shortness of breath and rapid breathing (hathiya) in the wake of which there would be coughing out of blood.

How to prevent rat fever?

Remove garbage and keep areas around human habitation clean to prevent infestation by rodents. Rid fields of rats.

Keep animals away from gardens, playgrounds and places where children play.

Where possible use protective clothing, knee-high mud-boots, gloves and keep wounds covered with waterproof dressings.

If there are small wounds or cracks on the feet, avoid getting into the fields.

Use boiled water as virulent organisms can withstand chlorination and filtering.

Don’t wade through flood waters. Takedoxycycline (200mg) once a week as a prophylaxis. This medicine may be obtained from the Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs).