Karwar: As many as 18 cases of leptospirosis (filed fever) have been reported in Uttara Kannada district. It is a disease that attack man through animals.

It is caused by both domestic and wild animals and the most common animal that spread the disease and rodents. Therefore, it mostly affects those working in paddy fields, those connected with diary/animal husbandry/fishing industry, those cleaning water drains and those working in slaughter houses.

In the last few years, leptospirosis has been raising its ugly heads in Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Sirsi and Siddapur taluks in the district. Around 40 cases each were reported in both 2013 and 2014. This year, one person has also died of this disease.

Symptoms

This disease is often transmitted by animal urine of the affected or by water or by soil containing animal urine coming into contact with breaks in the skin, eyes, mouth or nose. Leptospiral infection in humans causes a range of symptoms. It is a biphasic disease that begins suddenly with fever intense, headache, severe muscle ache, abdominal pain, red eye and occasionally skin rash. In later stages, the person gets suffers jaundice, kidney failure, bleeding in mouth, nose, urine and sputum, problems in breathing etc.

Vector-borne disease control office Ramesh Rao informed that the diseases can be confirmed by sending blood samples of the patient to IGM ELISA test. This test is done in the district laboratory. Early detection and treatment can cure the affected person.

He said that this disease does not spread to a healthy person through the affected person. It can be prevented by taking measures like drinking boiled water, keeping cooked food covered, consuming fresh and warm food, keeping rodents including rats from homes etc.

He asked people to visit the nearest government hospitals in case they develop such symptoms. He asked people to contact phone number 9480296849 in case of emergency or to get information.