Five die due to leptospirosis in South Guj

Surat, Aug 14 (UNI) The dreaded leptospirosis is raising its head in South Gujarat region, claiming five lives in the last 12 hours in the New Civil Hospital here, taking the toll so far to 11.

Hospital sources said more than 92 cases of suspected leptospirosis have been registered in civil hospital till today, out of which 37 patients tested positive with symptoms of the disease.

Five people, who died today have been identified as Bhana Patel (60) and Geeta Patel (52) both from Mahuva, Manish Chaudhry (18) from Vyara, Bharti Pawar (35) from Vansda and Bharti Rathod (35) of Bardoli.

Eight more people have been admitted to the hospital in the last 24 hours, sources said.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that causes a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches and vomiting, and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

If the disease is not treated in time, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory distress that could lead to death. Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected rodents mainly through the broken skin, sources said.

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