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Rat fever spreading in Matara District
Leptospirosis disease also known as rat fever has been spreading in the Matara District over the last two weeks. More than seven victims of the disease have been admitted to the Matara General Hospital.

Leptospirosis is a bacteria which spreads from the urine of infected wild or domestic animals. Rats are the major carriers of this bacterium. The human body can easily get this disease through drinking water contaminated by the bacteria. Though the sickness is curable the bacteria infects many parts of the body.

“The disease has affected many farmers in the district, because they work barefoot in paddy fields for a long time and are in direct contact with water which may be contaminated,” Dr.Rohana Wijenayake of the Infection Control Unit of the Matara General Hospital said.

Dr. Wijenayake said the bacteria can survive for a long time in fresh water, mud and paddy fields and in rivers, lakes and tanks. As there is no isolation unit in the Matara General Hospital, the patients are kept in a common ward.

“We have taken special precautions regarding this disease. Educational programmes are held throughout the Southern Province. Since Matara and Hambantota districts are at risk from the disease, the divisional secretaries have been informed to take immediate action to prevent the spread of the disease,” Southern Province Provincial Director of Health Services, Dr.S.W. Pathinayake said.

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