About four people have died of leptospirosis in Mumbai as heavy rains continue to hit the city, the most recent one being a 17-year-old boy. The insecticide department has treated 17 rat burrows with pesticides as rats are the common carriers of this disease. After the heavy showers, more focus is being given to low-lying areas, which floods fast.
leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus leptospira. It spreads through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases.
Some symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash. The time between a person’s exposure to a contaminated source and becoming ill is tqodays to four weeks.
Speaking about this, Dr KK Aggarwal, former president of Indian medical Association said: “Excess rain and the resultant flooding helps in facilitating the spread of the organism due to increase in the number of rodents. These shed large amounts of leptospires in their urine which mix with the flooded water. The bacteria can enter the body through skin or eyes, nose, or mouth, especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.”