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Rapidly increasing rat population could spread leptospirosis: Colombo Chief MOH
There is a possibility of an increase in leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, with the rapid increase in the population of rats in Colombo and its suburbs, Colombo Municipal Council’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam warned.
Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam points to areas where leptospirosis has spread
Dr. Kariyawasam said immediate measures had been put in place to bring the disease under control. He said since they did not have enough labourers or enough rat cages to trap rats rat poison was being introduced in addition to rat holes being inspected.
Rat poison being distributed in areas in Colombo. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
“So far two patients have reportedly contracted rat fever in Colombo this year, while seven patients with rat fever were reported from Colombo last year,” Dr. Kariyawasam said.
He said it was also necessary to promote health education programmes among the public to make them aware of the dangers posed by rodents. “Six public health inspectors have also been deployed in Colombo to carry out this task,” he said.
According to the chief MOH, Fort, Maradana, and Borella had a large rat populations. He blamed the situation on the growing number of unhygienic eateries and warehouses in these areas.
The Epidemiology Unit has reported 760 cases of leptospirosis up to April this year, with the majority of them being from Kalutara (103), Ratnapura (94), Gampaha (75), Galle (63), while only 36 were reported from Colombo
Rat fever is spread through rat urine, and open wounds exposed to the urine, infects victims with the disease
The symptoms of the disease include high fever, headaches and muscle pain. If left untreated, it could lead to death.