DAVANGERE: Five persons died of rat fever (Leptospirosis) in the last three months in Honnali taluk in the district. Hundreds of people in different villages of the taluk are being treated for the disease.

However, the Health Officer of Honnali taluk, Kenchappa R. Banti, told The Hindu that only three persons died of rat fever in the last three months. He said 46 people had come to the taluk hospital with symptoms of rat fever and their blood samples were sent for medical examination.

Of them, 33 persons tested positive for the disease. They were treated at the hospital, he said.

Nursing homes and private practitioners in Honnali said they had been treating patients suffering from rat fever for the last five to six months. They said two to three patients were visiting nursing homes or clinics every day with symptoms of rat fever.

There was not enough stock of medicines at the taluk hospital and seven PHCs (Primary Health Centres) and four (PHUs) Primary Health Units. People of Dodderi, Arasahalli and other villages complained that they had been asked to go to Davangere or Shimoga for treatment. Others alleged that they were asked to get injections from outside as there was no stock.

`Stock is adequate'

Health officials in PHCs and PHUs said they faced shortage in supply of medicines till October 15. Now there was enough stock, they said. The taluk hospital had purchased medicines with its users' fund to tide over the shortage, according to sources.

Incidence of rat fever is high in Soraturu, Bidaragedde, Haveli Kadadakatte, Dodderi, and Arasahalli villages of the taluk.

The health officer said those who died of the disease in the recent past were Parvathamma, Manjamma and Susheelamma. According to private nursing homes, two more women died of the disease — Lakshmamma and Bhagyamma.

Pamphlets distributed

Health officials have been touring the taluk extensively educating people about the disease. The Health Department had distributed over 1,000 pamphlets on the disease in affected areas and neighbouring villages.

Health officials instructed people to keep eatables in closed containers and use vegetables and fruits after washing it properly. They also asked people to kill rats.

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