Rat fever claims another life in Kasaragod

Kasaragod, Sept 20: The district has registered another death attributed to leptospirosis, also known as rat fever.

The fresh case was reported on Tuesday as B. Koran, 55, a resident of Badur colony at Thayannur , some 15 km east of Kanhangad, passed away at the Pariyaram Medical College where he was shifted with suspected leptospirosis symptoms on Friday.

Mr. Koran had undergone treatment at the district hospital in Kanhangad for three days before he was referred to the Pariyaram

hospital, District Medical Officer A.P. Dineshkumar said on Wednesday.

The Health Department has urged vulnerable persons to compulsorily take preventive medicines and immediately approach hospitals in case of fever symptoms.

The death toll in the district has touched four with two of them succumbing in September alone, Dr. Dineshkumar said.

The most vulnerable persons are those who frequently come in contact with marshy areas or coconut climbers, who sustain bruises while working, he said.

The district had reported 34 suspected leptospirosis cases this year, Dr Dineshkumar said.

Doxycycline

Those vulnerable can take preventive medicines like Doxycycline tablets, he said.