The Health Department, which is on high alert in the districts bordering Kerala after the recent outbreak of leptospirosis there, said there was no spurt in the disease in Tamil Nadu. It claimed that people who sought treatment for the disease at various hospitals across the State had a history of travel to the neighbouring State.
A senior official of the Health Department told The Hindu recently that there were no local cases of leptospirosis that suggest spurt in the disease in Tamil Nadu.
“All those detected with leptospirosis in Tamil Nadu, after the Kerala floods, had a history of travel to the neighbouring State. Measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease in Tamil Nadu. Health Department teams are working in the districts bordering Kerala,” said K. Kolandasamy, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
The official said that a few persons infected with the disease were undergoing treatment in Coimbatore. The disease has so far claimed two lives in the State and both the deaths were reported in Coimbatore.
“Leptospirosis is easily treatable. But late admission is a cause for concern. People should seek treatment for any type of fever at the earliest stage,” said Dr. Kolandasamy.
Teams working in Kerala
According to him, 18 medical teams of Tamil Nadu Health Department were still working in Kerala. Some of the teams have been working there since August 15, when the flood situation worsened.
“Some of the districts like Wayanad and Idukki, where teams from Tamil Nadu reached first, were not affected much in the outbreak. Controlling the outbreak in Kerala is also important for us to prevent the spread of the disease in Tamil Nadu,” added Dr. Kolandasamy.
Liver, kidney failure
Identification of leptospirosis at a late stage and late referrals from primary or secondary-level hospital to tertiary-level hospital can worsen the condition of the patients.
If left untreated, leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney failure, respiratory issues and meningitis.