500 hit by leptospirosis in Gujarat

At least 500 people have been affected by leptospiroris in the Surat and Bulsar districts of Gujarat. Fifty people have already died of the disease.

National Institute of Communicable Diseases director Jotena Sokhey said there was ''no immediate threat'' and efforts were on to control and prevent its spread to other states.

Dr Sushil Mishra of the Delhi municipal corporation said that besides humans, dogs, cattle, goats and frogs are infected when they come in contact with contaminated soil or water. Organisms enter the hosts through eyes, genitals or the alimentary tract. Farm workers in rice and sugarcane fields, sewer workers and fisherfolk are at increased risk of infection. ''the risk increases during and after the monsoon rains''.

However, person-to-person transmission is rate.

He said, ''Inadequate rodent control could be one of the main reasons for the rise of leptospirosis in the country. Constant surveillance is of paramount importance to keep track of the occurrence and distribution of infectious diseases like dengue, haemorrhagic fever besides leptospirosis.''

While animal leptospirosis is known to be widespread in India, not much is known of the spread and incidence of the human variety.

Diagnosis of the infection also becomes difficult because the clinical features resemble those of influenza, typhoid fever, dengue, haemorrhagic fever, viral hepatitis or bacterial meningitis.

''It is a hidden problem in the country,'' Mishra added.

In 1994, Maharashtra and Gujarat attracted attention following the outbreak of what was reported to be plague, which, like leptospirosis, is spread by rodents.

Sokhey said NICD was ''collaborating'' with the Gujarat government after the outbreak of leptospirosis, but declined to spell out the steps taken in this regard. She said the state government had taken all 'recommended measures' to control the spread of the epidemic.

While the NICD had received some blood samples from patients in the affected areas the Surat Medical College and hospital had found some of them to be positive.

Dr Mishra said because the natural reservoirs of leptospirosis are varied, eradicating them would be difficult. Since an effective vaccine is also not available for humans, the preventive measures should be directed towards reducing human contact with contaminated water or urine from infected animals.

He said people in rodent-infested areas were at higher risk and that it was important to control the rodent population to check the spread of the leptospirosis.

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