Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], June 29 : Keralam reported two deaths due to leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, in Kannur district on Monday, while nine fresh cases of the disease were confirmed across the state, according to the state health department.
The health department also reported 12 new dengue cases, eight malaria cases and six Shigella infections during the day.
Meanwhile, fever cases continued to remain high, with a total of 11,776 people seeking treatment for fever at hospitals and health centres across Kerala on Monday.
Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have urged the public to take preventive measures against waterborne and vector-borne diseases, particularly during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Person-to-person transmission is rare.
Meanwhile, Keralam Health Minister K Muralidharan on Sunday said the state has created 22,000 booths for the Pulse Polio Immunisation Drive and expressed confidence that most eligible children would receive polio drops during the campaign.
Minister K Muralidharan inaugurated the state-level launch of the Pulse Polio Immunisation programme at the Women and Children's Hospital in the Thycaud area.
Speaking to ANI, Muralidharan said, "A total of 22,000 booths are created in Kerala. Distribution is going on, and all the officials are in the field. Today, most of the children will be given Pulse Polio."
The minister said health officials have been deployed across the state to oversee the immunisation drive and ensure the smooth distribution of polio drops at the designated booths.