There is a risk of rat fever spreading in Galle district, 127 cases of rat fever have been reported from January 2023 to now, and 15 deaths of rat fever have been reported, among these deaths is a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Galle District Epidemiologist Mr. Eranda Hettiarachchi is reported to have said that.
It is also mentioned that the highest number of patients have been reported in Baddegama, Balapitiya, Karandeniya, Udugama, Yakkalamulla and Imaduwa divisions.
“Previously, this disease affected those who worked in the fields every day. But now those people are aware and get treatment before going down to the fields. Among the patients reported recently are those who went down to the fields occasionally, those who went down to the fields with the help of someone else, children who went down to the fields to fly kites, and those who went to other work through the fields. Also, there are those who cultivate in mud and water-related lands and those who cultivate keera kotu. “
