It has been 1,882 Leptospirosis (Rat fever) patients in the Ratnapura District last year and of them 22 patients died of the disease, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Health Services Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said.
Leptospirosis is caused by a type of bacteria in the urine of animal carriers such as rats, dogs, pigs, horses and civets.
Dr.Kannangara said this while participating in a rat fever prevention programme held at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council premises in Ratnapura recently.
This prevention programme was jointly organised by the Chief Ministry of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, the Provincial Health Services Directorate and the Ratnapura Regional Health Services Directorate. Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Champa Janaki Rajaratne, who attended the event said that the medical report indicates that there have been 1,882 rat fever patients in the Ratnapura district and 22 deaths occurred due to the disease.
In addition to paddy farming, the gem mining industry may also be a reason for the increasing number of patients and spreading of rat fever. Rat fever patients are commonly reported from the fields of paddy farming and gem mining, which are sectors that are closely linked to the country’s economy.
The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor said that more human and physical facilities will be provided to combat rat fever if there is a scarcity of resources to fight against rat fever.
Dr.Kannangara added that 10,000 rat fever patients and over 200 deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka from January to November 2024. With these 1,882 rat fever cases and 22 deaths have been reported in Ratnapura District alone, making it the district with the highest number of rat fever cases in the country.
However, in 2023, the number of rat fever patients reported in Ratnapura District was 1,422. The high-risk areas for rat fever in Ratnapura District include Eheliyagoda, Kiriella, Elapatha, Pelmadulla, Opanayake, Nivitigala, Kalawana and Kaltota.
The deadly rat fever bacteria can be found in places such as paddy fields, mines, water tanks, cages, drains, farms, and any other moist place. Rat fever bacteria enters the body through areas with delicate tissues such as cuts, wounds, and eyes.
The main symptoms of rat fever include fever, muscle pain, red eyes, vomiting, headache, lethargy, decreased urination, dark yellow urine, and blood in the urine.
A week before starting paddy work, preventive medicine (Doxycyclene 200mg per week) can be obtained from the District Health Officer’s office or the Public Health Inspector.
If rat fever is not treated properly, organs such as the kidneys, heart, and brain can fail and even cause death, Dr.Kannangara said.
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