Kerala was battling with a massive flood situation and after the condition of the state came back to normal it again started battling with another massive situation, leptospirosis. An outbreak of the deadly disease has killed nine people till now and thirty-six more are suspected.
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A health ministry spokesperson said as of Sunday there had been nearly 200 confirmed cases of what is locally called rat fever – the waterborne disease leptospirosis transmitted via the urine of infected animals.
“There is no need of panic but we have to be extra vigilant for at least three weeks. I have instructed health officials to engage with relief workers only after taking doxycycline tablets,” said the state health minister, KK Shailaja, on Monday.
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After the water started residing, the water-borne diseases were of fear. Dengue has spared Kerala, with only seven cases being reported in August.