Insta
After Flood, Kerala Now Hit Hard By Leptospirosis That Has Claimed At Least 20 Lives In Two Days
Residents seek treatment at a medical shelter in Chegannur relief camp in Kerala, India. (Atul Loke/Getty Images)
Even as Kerala is recovering from the effects of flood and torrential rains, the state now faces the problem of leptospirosis or rat fever. The rising incidents of leptospirosis have resulted in at least 20 people losing their lives on Friday (31 August) and Saturday (1 September). The fever has claimed nearly 28 lives in the last one month.
Malayalam daily Manorama reported that Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts in Kerala have been badly affected by the outbreak, caused by human coming in contact with water in which urine of rodents gets mixed. Over 40 people had shown symptoms of the fever like cold, vomiting, headache and muscle pain.
At least 10 of the 14 districts in Kerala were affected by the flood as the state government had open 80 dams that got filled to the brim. The dams got filled up following torrential rains in July and August, resulting in nearly 375 people losing their lives. The state’s losses have been pegged at nearly Rs 20,000 crore, while lakhs of houses and over 10,000 km of roads damaged.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
