Leptospirosis outbreak feared in Chennai

Doctors warn about a danger that hidden within this water stagnation. The biggest threat due to stagnating water is the fear of Dengue, caused by mosquitoes, and Typhoid fever.

Doctors caution that there can also be an outbreak of Leptospirosis, a dreaded disease spread by rodents. The virus, which is present into the water, gets transferred into the human body, when people walk barefoot in this stagnated flood water.

Rodent urine, present in stagnated water, adversely affects lungs and kidney. Besides, people exposed to stagnated water are also prone to Hepatitis A and B, warned the doctors.

Leptospirosis is colloquially known as ‘rat fever’, said Dr. Ezhilan, adding, “Chennai lacks proper drainage, especially during the rainy season, when there is a danger of water stagnation. People who are exposed to this water and walk barefoot, are in the danger of contracting diseases like Leptospirosis fever, which can be fatal.”