<p class="title">Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said on Wednesday that the spread of leptospirosis (rat fever) in the state was under control.</p>.<p class="title">Speaking with reporters after a review meeting here, she said the toll — one suspected and one confirmed death on Wednesday — showed that preventive measures initiated after flooding in the state had worked to a considerable extent.</p>.<p class="title">The alert regarding the disease will continue for three weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Since August 15, the state has reported 13 deaths from leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that spreads through water or soil contaminated by the infected animals, faster in conditions, including floods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eight of these 13 deaths were reported in September. A total of 64 cases were confirmed on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even as reports emerged on the shortage of Doxycycline – a preventive drug – in some parts of the state, including Kozhikode, one of the worst-hit districts, the health minister said the state had enough stocks of the drug to meet the demand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 75 lakh tablets were distributed after the floods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for medical treatment, has directed the health minister to ensure special precaution in areas where the disease has been reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Chief Minister’s Office said directions were also issued to conduct public awareness programmes along with preventive efforts.</p>
<p class="title">Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said on Wednesday that the spread of leptospirosis (rat fever) in the state was under control.</p>.<p class="title">Speaking with reporters after a review meeting here, she said the toll — one suspected and one confirmed death on Wednesday — showed that preventive measures initiated after flooding in the state had worked to a considerable extent.</p>.<p class="title">The alert regarding the disease will continue for three weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Since August 15, the state has reported 13 deaths from leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that spreads through water or soil contaminated by the infected animals, faster in conditions, including floods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eight of these 13 deaths were reported in September. A total of 64 cases were confirmed on Wednesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even as reports emerged on the shortage of Doxycycline – a preventive drug – in some parts of the state, including Kozhikode, one of the worst-hit districts, the health minister said the state had enough stocks of the drug to meet the demand.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 75 lakh tablets were distributed after the floods.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for medical treatment, has directed the health minister to ensure special precaution in areas where the disease has been reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Chief Minister’s Office said directions were also issued to conduct public awareness programmes along with preventive efforts.</p>