Two more confirmed cases of leptospirosis have been reported from the Kakkodi region in the district, taking the count to ten in as many days. Three men have died so far in the district after being infected with the leptospira bacterium.
Though no sizeable spurt has been reported, the cases indicate they are occurring at various places and not just in one area or a cluster.
According to field-level health officials carrying out surveillance and educating people on preventive measures, stagnation of water and the presence of garbage dumps nearby combine to pose the threat of the disease. Dumping of waste continues at various places, attracting rats and other animals that could be infected with the leptospira bacterium. Health workers are looking beyond rats as the culprits because street dogs and cattle too are drawn towards waste dumps, looking for leftover food. These animals too could be infected.
Health dept. advisory
Along with its guidelines on diagnosing and treating leptospirosis, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory that animal housing should be kept away from human dwellings during the normal time of occurrence.
The advisory, as a preventive measure, only points out that even pets or domesticated animals can be infected. Preventive measures include vaccinating pets against leptospirosis.
The bacterium is present in stagnant water or soil that animals could drink or walk on. This is the mode of contracting the bacterium. The urine of infected animals mixes with stagnant rainwater. The bacterium in the stagnant water gets into humans when they walk without proper footwear to protect their sores or injuries in the feet.
Risk to workers
In addition to farm workers, conservancy workers face the risk of infection. Kozhikode Corporation Health Committee chairman K.V. Baburaj said on Wednesday that the civic body’s workers who were engaged in the waste disposal and draining of rain water along roads were asked to wear boots and gloves. Some of the workers preferred to work without these, thereby exposing themselves to infection, he said.
“We had given this instruction to them as monsoon was setting in, and given the possibility and history of leptospirosis occurrence in Kozhikode,” he said. On complaints of shortage of gear, he said “We have procured more to ensure that the workers did not get infected,” he said.
Caution
Waste attracts rats and other animals that could be infected with leptospira bacterium
Street dogs and cattle too are drawn towards waste dumps and they too could be infected
Pets and domesticated animals should be vaccinated against leptospirosis
Urine of infected animals mixes with stagnant rainwater
Bacterium in stagnant water gets into humans through sores or injuries in the feet
