Kochi (Kerala) [India], Sept 4 (NT): Twelve people have died of leptospirosis ( Rat fever) disease in Kerala between August 1 and September 3. On the  other hand 372 confirmed leptospirosis cases have been reported from the flood-hit state since August 1.

Following the outburst, Kerala Health Minister K. K. Shailaja Teacher called a review meeting at Kozhikode. It is the district from where the most number of leptospirosis cases have been reported.

After the review meeting, the health minister declared three weeks of high alert and said that Kerala would be on red alert for next three weeks but there is nothing to panic.

He added that all hospitals are equipped with enough stocks of medicine, even though there were extensive advisories after the flood, people were reluctant to consume precautionary tablets.

Since more cases of rat fever have been reported from Kozhikode district, so an isolated war-room will be set up in Kozhikode medical college.

 What is Leptospirosis or Rat fever ?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that infects both humans and animals. It affects human when they come in direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated surroundings.

Some of the untimely symptoms of the Rat fever

High fever

Muscle pain, headache

Redness of the eye,

Vomiting,

Diarrhea.

In recent times Kerala was hit by the worst floods in nearly a century, in which more than 400 people died and damage to the tune of nearly Rs. 20,000 crores occurred. (NT)