Rat fever: WP tops the list:

Antibiotic arrives this week

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Western Province has recorded the highest number of rat fever (Leptospirosis) cases. A total of 417 rat fever cases had been reported by February 25, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman 230 rat fever cases were reported in January and another 187 cases in February. Colombo district recorded 42 rat fever cases. Ratnapura district 39 and Anuradhapura district 32 rat fever cases. Crystalline Penicillin, the antibiotic required to treat rat fever patients will reach the country this week.

The Ministry will import 40,000 Crystalline Penicillin doses from India this week to treat rat fever patients. Doxycycline, the drug use to protect people from rat fever is freely available in the country and can be obtained free of charge through MOHs, he said.