The risk of many diseases increases in areas affected by heavy rains or floods. One of these is rat fever which comes in the list of serious diseases. In the year 2018, about 45 people died due to rat fever in Kerala alone. Every year, floods during monsoon increase the risk of this dangerous disease. It is also called leptospirosis. It comes in the list of bacterial infections in which the patient complains of fever. If the patient does not get timely medical treatment, he may die. This disease is spread by rats and can spread to humans through water. Leptospirosis is a virus commonly found in rats or dogs.
During floods, animals like rats and humans come in contact in some way or the other. Water is an important medium in spreading this disease among people. This contaminated water infects humans with leptospirosis. Let us tell you what this disease is and what are its symptoms. Also know how you can avoid it.
How is rat fever spread?
This disease spreads by coming in contact with an infected animal. This disease spreads in the body by touching such animals, eating their contaminated food and drinking contaminated water or coming in contact with them. A person who becomes a victim of leptospirosis can spread it to others. Experts say that it can also reach us through the skin. Dr. Ankit Kumar Singh, resident of Delhi's GTB Hospital, says that cases of rat fever increase during the rainy season. This fever spreads through the urine of infected rats. When the urine of an infected rat mixes with water and a person comes in contact with it, he gets rat fever.
These symptoms appear after rat fever
Its main symptom is fever. If a person is in a flood-affected area and complains of high fever, he should get tested for rat fever as well as dengue and malaria.
- Headache
- body pain
- redness of the body
- Skin rashes
- Complications of jaundice
Preventive measures against rat fever
To avoid rat fever, it is important that you do not drink infected water. That is, it is better to drink boiled water during the rains. Where there is a flood situation, more attention should be paid to this.
- Try not to come in contact with flood water. Do not drink this water even by mistake.
- If you are going outside, wear waterproof shoes and gloves. Neglecting such safety measures in flood areas can prove costly.
- Do not eat food that has come in contact with dirty water. Therefore, it is better to avoid eating things like meat and fish.
- Try to keep your surroundings as dry as possible and, if possible, cook food thoroughly.
- The most important thing is to wash your hands regularly. Or carry a sanitizer with you when you go out.
