A case of black fever known as Visceral leishmaniasis that can be fatal if not properly treated has been reported from Manantheri at Chittariparamba grama panchayat here.
Office of the District Medical Office (DMO) said the black fever case reported from the Thondileri Lakshamveedu colony at Manatheri had been confirmed. It was for the first time that the disease had been confirmed in the district, health officials here said adding that the patient undergoing treatment was recovering. The second largest parasitic killer in the world after malaria, this tropical infectious disease was hardly reported in the State, except a case reported in Thrissur last year. The vector-borne disease was mainly found in some parts of North India, they said. The disease is spread by tiny insects called sandflies.
When contacted, DMO P.K. Baby said that recurrent fever and weakness were the symptoms of the disease. It could cause death if treatment was not given in time. The disease would also cause enlargement of spleen and liver, he said adding that the health officials were monitoring the area from where the case was reported.
