Mangalore: Rat fever claims two lives in two days

 

Mangalore, 15 Nov 2013 (TOI): Two persons have succumbed to leptospirosis (rat fever) in a space of two days taking the total number of deaths this year to four from this Zoonotic disease spread by rodents. From the beginning of this year 127 positive cases have been reported.

 

Dr Rajesh BV, district surveillance officer, confirmed that the third and fourth deaths were due to Leptospirosis according to cards test, which is antigen test. Though we cannot accept this as per government of India guidelines which mandates Elisa test for confirmation, the symptoms and other characteristics were of rat fever,’’ he said. Elisa test is done only in KMC and Fr Muller Hospital in the city.

 

While Abdul Rahiman from Thota Bengre near city died on Tuesday, Vasudeva (35) of Yenmuru Village, Sullia taluk died on Wednesday.

 

Dr Rajesh points out that it is a sad state that rat fever continues to claim victims despite widespread awareness programmes among doctors, especially practitioners of Ayush in rural areas. Cases in Kadaba and Panja PHC limits have not reached mortality stage as the doctors are well aware of screening the fever patients for dengue, malaria and rat fever. Vasudeva had initially undergone Ayurveda treatment and then he was shifted to a private hospital in Puttur. BY the time he was brought to Mangalore, there was multi-organ failure,’’ he said. Vasudeva had tested negative for malaria as well as dengue.

 

Dr Rajesh says the main reason for the increase is no effective rodent control measures and lack of awareness of this among both doctors and patients, who go for self medication, in rural areas. Though rat fever initially in patients exhibits symptoms like the other deadly diseases like Malaria and Dengue, rat fever has a different prophylaxis and without early detection and treatment leads to severe complications like renal failure.

 

Rat fever is endemic to this region, especially in rural areas of the district. Its incidence sees a rise during the beginning of the monsoon months and ends after rains. Since the past two years, there has been high incidence of rat fever with 216 cases reported in 2011 with three deaths. In the year 2012 there were 197 cases and two deaths.