The Office of the Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) in Vavuniya has confirmed that 41 individuals in the district contracted Leptospirosis, commonly known as “rat fever,” during 2024.
This data was revealed during a public awareness program organized by the RDHS office in Vavuniya, aimed at educating the community on preventing the disease.
According to the RDHS, the affected individuals were primarily farmers, with cases reported during the ‘Maha’ and ‘Yala’ cultivation seasons last year.
Health officials highlighted that Leptospirosis can be effectively prevented by administering antibiotics before the commencement of farming activities in these cultivation seasons.
The RDHS office assured that similar to measures implemented in the Jaffna district, proactive steps are being taken in Vavuniya to control the spread of the disease. These include farmer education initiatives and preventive interventions to safeguard public health.
