Over 40 Leptospirosis Cases reported in Vavuniya District last Year

The affected individuals were primarily farmers infected during the ‘Maha’ and ‘Yala’ cultivation seasons.

These insights were shared at a public awareness program organized by the RDHS office to educate people on preventing the disease. Officials highlighted that rat fever can be avoided by taking antibiotics before the cultivation seasons.

The RDHS office has implemented measures to prevent the spread of Leptospirosis in Vavuniya, similar to efforts successfully carried out in Jaffna. Farmers are being educated on safety practices to reduce the risk of infection.

Across Sri Lanka, nearly 12,000 cases of Leptospirosis have been reported last year, along with over 200 deaths.

The Ministry’s epidemiology unit has advised the public to seek immediate medical care if they experience symptoms such as a high fever lasting several days, a flat red rash with small bumps on the hands and feet that appears 2 to 4 days after the fever starts, swollen, red, or painful joints, severe muscle pain, headaches, vomiting, or a sore throat.
These could indicate Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that requires timely treatment to prevent serious complications.