Beware! Rat fever in tow

Kozhikode: The district health department has cautioned the public on the increase in number of rat fever (which is also called Weil’s disease) cases reported from various parts of the district in the wake of the monsoon season.

District health officer Dr V. Jayasree informed that there are high chances of the diesease being spread as more people are working in the flood-affected areas, which are prone to the disease due to the contaminated water they deal with.

“Proper awareness among the public is required in order to curb the spread of the disease”, she said. “This period is conducive to the spread of the disease due to the intermittent rainfall now.  More than 600 cases of rat fever is reported from Medical College alone every year, and hence this year our focus is to reduce the number of cases, by taking necessary precautions. We have strictly recommended to volunteers and people involved in cleaning houses and other flood-affected areas to use precautionary medicines and drugs,” she added.

People with wounds or injuries, especially on hands and legs, must try to avoid contact with contaminated water that have high chances for having rat urine. Some of the symptoms of the disease are back pain, vomiting, redeye, headache, muscle ache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and also fever.

The medical department is all set to host a campaign to spread awareness among the public and protect the high-risk group. The officials have also decided to conduct medical camps to detect the presence of the disease in several parts of the district.