GULBARGA: As many as 53 new cases of suspected leptospirosis have been reported in three villages in Shahapur taluk of Gulbarga district in the past fortnight.

Official sources said here on Sunday that 38 patients from Kumakanur, 12 from Arjunagi and three from Bilar are undergoing treatment for symptoms of leptospirosis, which include headache, muscular pain, fever and extreme cold and loss of appetite. A team of doctors, who have been deputed to the villages, have taken blood samples from patients and sent them for tests to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Bangalore.

Over 170 patients with the same symptoms were treated for leptospirosis in the neighbouring Badiyal and Wonegera in Yadgir taluk a month ago. Although the incidence of the disease has been brought under control in Badiyal and Wonegera, it has now spread to new areas.

Sources said there are no primary health centres in Kumakanur, Arjunagi or Bilar, and patients have to go to the one at Wadegera, which is 13 km away, or visit the Yadgir Government Hospital for treatment. In view of the emergency, the authorities have converted the anganwadis and the school premises into temporary hospitals. Doctors are also camping in the affected villages.

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