Kerala battling 'rat fever' outbreak after Indian state's worst flooding in century

Officials warn of 'fast, progressive infection'

Kerala, the southern Indian state reeling from its worst flooding in a century, is now battling a “fast, progressive” strain of leptospirosis, or “rat fever”, as it is known locally.

Some 200 cases of the infection have been confirmed so far, a health ministry spokesman said, and authorities suspect it is the cause of dozens of deaths since mid-August.

The waterborne bacterial disease can prove fatal and is transmitted by the urine of infected animals, with symptoms including muscle pain and fever.

The outbreak comes after flooding triggered by torrential rain devastated almost the entire state, destroying thousands of homes, killing hundreds of people and running up a bill for at least £2.81bn in damage.

The health ministry began distributing preventative medicine last month and warned about the outbreak of leptospirosis and other waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera, health minister K K Shailaja told reporters.

Local media reported three leptospirosis deaths on Monday.

“The victims had unfortunately not taken preventive medicine,” the minister said.

Overall, nine deaths from the disease have been confirmed, but the number may rise to over 40 pending full medical reports, the ministry spokesman said.

Leptospirosis rarely spreads from person to person and can be treated with common antibiotics.

“In the past week, we have seen about 30 deaths in Kozhikode and Wayanad,” said Mohammed Javeed, internal medicine specialist at a private hospital in Kerala, referring to two of the worst flood-affected districts on the state’s southwest coast.

Mr Javeed said the state has leptospirosis cases every monsoon season as paddy fields fill with water, increasing the chance of infection for farmers, especially through wounds such as cuts.

Of particular concern, however, is that some of the victims this year did not have usual symptoms such as mild jaundice, blood in urine or bleeding spots on the skin, he said.

“This time it is a fast, progressive infection,” Mr Javeed. “The recent deaths indicate clearly the threat of an epidemic.”

Medical professionals are continuing to dispense preventive medicine in the form of tablets which need to be taken once a week for a month, he added.

According to the World Health Organisation, leptospirosis' incubation period is between five and 14 days. Symptoms can be as mild as a flu-like illness but it can be fatal.

The infection can be transmitted to humans through cuts and abrasions, or through the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth, the body said.

Kerala residents returning to their homes have faced another threat, it emerged last month – deadly snakes and scorpions hiding in beds, cupboards and under carpets.

Authorities said thousands of arachnids and reptiles were likely to have been washed into houses that had been submerged.

During the floods more than one million people were evacuated from their homes. Officials said they believed more than 360 people were killed amid the national crisis.

Volunteer fishermen were hailed as “heroes” after they came inland from the coast with a fleet of about 600 boats to rescue villagers.

Additional reporting by Reuters