Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district has witnessed a rise in cases of leptospirosis or “rat fever” since the region began receiving torrential rainfall. Over 30 cases have been reported within the district in the month of July alone.
Out of 30, 17 cases are from the Mangaluru Taluk (mostly urban areas), six cases have been reported from the Bantwal taluk, three cases from Puttur and four cases from Belthangady. While there weren’t many cases prior to July, the number of cases reported in August is yet to be ascertained, said the District Health Department in a press release.
So far, the disease has not led to any deaths. Health workers (along with ASHA workers) are creating awareness in the localities that have seen cases of leptospirosis. During monsoon, water sources get contaminated as rat urine mixes with the floodwater in the drains, which in turn mixes with the drinking water sources.
Awareness measures are being taken up in schools as wells as Anganwadis. There is a treatment protocol for leptospirosis and ignoring the disease may turn fatal. Therefore, officials from the Health Department have urged the people to approach hospitals or healthcare centres in cases of a fever.
Meanwhile, dengue cases are falling and malaria cases have shot up according to health officials.
According to District Vector-borne Diseases Control Officer Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, a total of 952 cases of dengue have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district from January to August 3, while 1,341 cases of malaria have been reported in the same period. Most cases of dengue and malaria were reported from within the city limits as opposed to the taluks.
Extensive efforts have been taken up to control mosquito larvae (especially Aedes larvae) and have helped in battling the disease. However, mosquitoes of the Aedes and Anopheles breed continue to exist in water sources and indoor areas. Abandoned and under-maintained wells are another problem within the city as they have turned into mosquito breeding grounds. The Health Department has stressed on the use of effective biological control measures like breeding guppy fish in such cases.
