After the floods: Leptospirosis kills 12 in Kerala, 372 test positive; high alert sounded
Kerala floods
According to reports, the maximum number of cases of the disease has been reported in Kozhikode.
The aftermath of the destructive deluge in Kerala is not just the loss of property but also an outbreak of a disease that has claimed twelve lives so far.
According to reports, as many as 12 people have died from Leptospirosis, news agency ANI reported. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of the disease have been reported since August 1.
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher called a review meeting at Kozhikode, to take stock of the situation. Three weeks of high alert has been sounded in the wake of the outbreak, however, there is no cause for panic, the minister maintained.
Shailaja noted that some people were reluctant to consume preventive drugs when the health advisories clearly called for the same.
"Kerala would be on high alert for next three weeks but there is nothing to panic. All hospitals are equipped with enough stocks of medicine. Even though there were wide advisories after the flood, people were reluctant to consume precautionary tablets. As more cases have been reported from Kozhikode district, an isolated war-room will be set up in Kozhikode medical college," Shailaja stated.
According to reports, the maximum number of cases of the disease has been reported from Kozhikode.
A bacterial disease, Leptospirosis is found both in humans as well as in animals. It spread and infects humans on coming in direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.
Symptoms would include high fever, muscle pain, headache, redness of the eye, vomiting, diarrhoea among others.
Kerala was lashed by unabated rainfall this monsoon season as a result of which the state authorities were prompted to open shutters of as many as 33 dams and reservoirs. Massive flooding across the state claimed nearly 400 lives.
Over 10 lakh people were displaced, taking shelter in more than 5,000 relief camps that were set-up across the state. The deluge has caused an estimated loss of over Rs 21,000 crore to the state.