The recent outbreak of a fever in Jaffna that has claimed seven lives has reportedly been identified as Leptospirosis, commonly referred to as "rat fever," according to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health Epidemiology Unit.
The death toll, initially reported as five, rose to seven as health officials worked to identify the cause of the illness that affected residents in the northern district. Jaffna Hospital Director, Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy, confirmed that three of the fatalities were due to Leptospirosis, while the remaining deaths are suspected to be linked to the same disease.
The victims, aged between 20 and 65, succumbed to fever and respiratory complications. Blood samples sent to Colombo for further testing led to the official confirmation of Leptospirosis as the cause.
In response to the outbreak, a specialised team from Colombo’s Infectious Diseases Unit, led by Dr. Prabha Abeykoon, visited Jaffna to conduct further investigations. The team conducted research at Jaffna Hospital and engaged in discussions with hospital staff, including Dr. Sathyamoorthy and General Practitioner T. Peranandaraja, to better understand the spread of the disease.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection often transmitted to humans through water contaminated by the urine of infected animals, including rats. Symptoms can include fever, headaches, and respiratory complications, and severe cases can result in death. The disease is particularly prevalent in areas with poor sanitation or during flooding, where contaminated water becomes a significant risk.
The recent weather events in the North-East, which was badly hit by a cyclone in recent weeks, are thought to have contributed to the outbreak of the disease. Local health officials are expected to issue advisories to prevent further cases and address the conditions contributing to the spread of the disease.