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| Sunday, 19 October 2003 |
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'Rat Fever' on the rise BY CAROL ALOYSIUS Epidemiology Unit officials, Wednesday urged the public to refrain from working on moist surfaces and wading in muddy water to avoid contracting a rapidly rising disease - leptospirosis, earlier known as 'Rat Fever' The disease which occurs in cycles and becomes widespread immediately after heavy rains, was less than 200 prior to 1991 but has gradually assumed near epidemic proportions in the ensuing years, rising to around 1,200 suspected cases in 1994, and peaking at nearly 1,500 cases since. This year up to October around 2,200 suspected cases have been detected, according to assistant epidemiologists, Doctors Ananda Amarasinghe and Nihal Abeysinghe." The disease has not reached epidemic proportions, but it could if it is allowed to spread", they warned. The disease had formerly been widespread in areas such as Moneragala, Ampara, Matara and in the North Western province and Galle. However, at present it has spread to areas on the outskirts of Colombo including Kaduwela, Homagama and Mirigama. Dr. Amarasinghe and Dr. Abeysinghe said that they were closely monitoring the progress of the disease to prevent it infecting city dwellers. People living in unsanitary environments like slum dwellers are most at risk, they pointed out. Leptospirosis is usually transmitted from infected animals who in turn contaminate water with their urine or faeces. Human beings who come in physical contact with such water can get Leptospirosis, Dr. Sarath Gamini de Silva, Consultant Physician, National Hospital, told media personnel at a seminar at the Health Education Bureau. He said that the highest risk groups were paddy farmers and sugar cane plantation workers. "Ideally such persons should wear boots and gloves to protect themselves. Anyone with open wounds or cuts should refrain from working in muddy soil until their wounds have healed", he emphasised. "While rodents were the chief carriers, the rat is not the only carrier. Cattle, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, foxes and deer are also carriers of the disease", he emphasised. Symptoms of leptospirosis are high fever, body aches, severe headaches, redness or yellow colouring of the eyes, and dark urine. "Patients suffering from Leptospirosis are often diagnosed too late since the symptoms are similar to dengue or hepatitis. If detected early, we can prevent the grave consequences that follow this disease including death", Dr. de Silva said. Untreated, the disease can affect the brain, kidneys, heart and liver and the patient can end up with renal failure leading to death. The disease which is caused by a bacteria responds well to penicillin and, if admitted early, a patient can recover completely, he reiterated. Chlorination of identified contaminated water, rodent control by destroying rat holes and keeping paddy fields free of weeds and bushes are some of the steps being taken by the Health Ministry to control the spread of the disease. |
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