Health authorities have raised an alert over the increasing threat of leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, where between 600 to 700 cases are reported each year.
The warning comes as the Maha cultivation season commences — a period traditionally associated with a higher risk of infection due to farmers’ close contact with contaminated water in paddy fields.
According to health officials, the disease is primarily transmitted through water or soil tainted with the urine of infected rodents, making farmers and agricultural workers particularly vulnerable.
Medical experts urge the public, especially those engaged in paddy cultivation, to wear protective clothing, avoid direct contact with stagnant water, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, or jaundice appear.
Health teams in the province have also been directed to intensify awareness campaigns and preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease during the cultivation season.
