Rat Fever cases exceed 2010 total

By Carol Aloysius The cumulative number of Rat Fever (Leptospirosis) cases for this year has exceeded the total number of cases for last year. In January 2011, the cumulative number of cases was 230 as against 245 for the corresponding month last year. Yesterday, July 22, the number of cases stood at 4,550 as against 4,540 for the entire year in 2010. The number of deaths for this year is 60 - half the number for the entire year in 2010. This dramatic leap has been attributed to the fact that the disease is now spreading to non traditional and non endemic areas, according to Entomological Department sources. While certain areas have shown a decline in the number of cases this year compared to last year, such as Gampaha (177 cases), Kalutara (177 cases) and Kandy (107 cases) this year, most other Regional Health Divisional areas have shown a marked increase in numbers. The biggest rise in cases (1,352) has registered at Kurunegala, with Hambantota coming next with 407 cases. The highest number of deaths have been recorded so far at Gampaha (11) out of the 349 cases, followed by Kurunegala (9), Kalutara (7) and Hambantota (7). Rat Fever this year peaked in March when the figures rose to 1,615 as against 497 for the same period last year. Although the number of cases have declined since then, health sources said that they could go up when farmers begin their harvesting season in August-September. “The rats which are hidden in holes in the fields will then come out of the holes and if the farmers are not wearing protective clothing like boots and gloves and have cuts on their hands and feet they can get the disease from the rat urine,” a health spokesman told The Nation. All those working in sewers, gem pits, etc have been warned to be specially careful. Playgrounds and open spaces with pools of water following rains have been prohibited for schoolchildren as they could get infected by the rat urine when playing barefoot. Meanwhile Epidemiology Chief Paba Palihawadena has reiterated her instructions to all Regional Directors of Health to give priority to controlling the fast spreading epidemic, and emphasises that improving surveillance was the most important measure in controlling the outbreak as early intervention could save lives. She has also advised them to ensure adequate stocks of Doycycxline, and increase community awareness so that patients would seek treatment no sooner they present very early symptoms of the disease at the nearest hospital. The latest two victims and the first in the Colombo Municipal area are two prisoners from the Welikada prison. One of whom died early this week.

http://www.nation.lk/2011/08/07/news16.htm