India, Gujarat : Two more die of leptospirosis, toll rises to 5 in state

Article via The Indian Express :

" With two more people dying of leptospirosis at the New Civil Hospital in Surat, the death toll in the past 12 days rose to five, sources said on Monday.

One of the deceased has been identified as Kishan Harpati (40), a resident of Neol village in Palsana taluka of Surat district, while the second patient was Pritesh Patel (35), a resident of Mahuva taluka.

Hospital sources said these patients were undergoing treatment in the EO ward of the hospital for the past few days. Over 35 such patients are undergoing treatment for the disease at the New Civil Hospital. On Sunday night, two more cases of suspected Leptospirosis were detected. Doctors have taken blood samples of both the patients. Their results are awaited.

Surat New Civil Hospital medical superintendent Dr M K Wadhel said, "This year, the impact of leptospirosis is less than that of the last. Health department officials have also carried out an awareness drive in different districts of South Gujarat. This is meant to inform patients about the disease as most of them come to us at a later stage."

Every year, over hundreds of farm labourers die due to leptospirosis in south Gujarat. These labourers work in the field with their bare hands and feet, as a result of which they are easily exposed to the bacteria found in the urine of rats in the fields."