Rat fever alert in Kerala to continue

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said on Wednesday that the spread of leptospirosis (rat fever) in the state was under control.

Speaking with reporters after a review meeting here, she said the toll — one suspected and one confirmed death on Wednesday — showed that preventive measures initiated after flooding in the state had worked to a considerable extent.

The alert regarding the disease will continue for three weeks.

Since August 15, the state has reported 13 deaths from leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that spreads through water or soil contaminated by the infected animals, faster in conditions, including floods.

Eight of these 13 deaths were reported in September. A total of 64 cases were confirmed on Wednesday.

Even as reports emerged on the shortage of Doxycycline – a preventive drug – in some parts of the state, including Kozhikode, one of the worst-hit districts, the health minister said the state had enough stocks of the drug to meet the demand.

More than 75 lakh tablets were distributed after the floods.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for medical treatment, has directed the health minister to ensure special precaution in areas where the disease has been reported.

The Chief Minister’s Office said directions were also issued to conduct public awareness programmes along with preventive efforts.