The District Medical Officer (DMO) has warned people to take proper precaution against leptospirosis.
He has called for the measures because several cases of infection have been reported from different parts of the district. The disease, caused by leptospira bacteria, could be carried by rodents, cattle, dog, cat and other animals, he said.
The bacteria could enter human body through contact with the soil or water containing the urine of infected animals. Those with wounds on legs or arms would have to be particularly careful to ensure that the wound did not get in touch with polluted water, which could contain the harmful bacteria. Care should be taken not to use contaminated water for taking bath or washing hands and legs.
Curbing the rodent population by suitable means has been advised by medical authorities at a meeting held here recently to discuss various measures adopted to prevent leptospirosis and other infectious diseases.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of the disease include fever, body pain, headache, redness in the eye, vomiting and reduced urine discharge. Those who are engaged in manual work in fields and undertake the job of cleaning up of canals and ponds should use thick gloves and boots. Labourers engaged in such work over a long period should take preventive medicine. The medicine for treatment as well as prevention of leptospirosis is available at government hospitals.
Meanwhile, higher incidence of dysentery has been causing concern to medical authorities. Over 1,000 cases of dysentery have been reported within a week in the district. Consumption of impure water has been cited as the major reason behind the increase in the incidence of the disease. Scarcity of potable water is understood to have contributed to the increase in the number of people affected by the disease. Incidence of dengue fever and chicken pox has also been reported from various parts of the district.
Several cases of the
infection have been reported from district
Incidence of dengue fever and chicken pox has also been reported
