COLOMBO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over 10,000 cases of leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, have been reported in Sri Lanka so far this year, a senior official from the epidemiology unit of the Ministry of Health told a press conference on Wednesday.
Public health specialist Kumudu Weerakoon from the epidemiology unit said the number is expected to rise in the coming weeks due to inter-monsoonal rains and paddy farming activities.
Weerakoon said that individuals exposed to water and mud, especially paddy farmers, miners, and those affected by floods, are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
In 2023, Sri Lanka recorded over 9,000 cases of rat fever, resulting in nearly 200 deaths, she said.
Weerakoon warned that if left untreated, the illness could cause severe damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, and brain, and in extreme cases, could be fatal.
To combat the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health is providing free antibiotics to high-risk individuals, she added. ■
