<p class="title">Kerala recorded two more deaths from confirmed leptospirosis (rat fever) cases on Monday even as the number of suspected cases continued to rise.</p>.<p class="title">Since August 22, 11 deaths due to leptospirosis have been reported. Six of these 11 deaths were reported since September 1.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two deceased on Monday are Nirmala (49), from Palakkad, and Narayani (80), from Kozhikode.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A total of 71 confirmed cases were reported on Monday and eight deaths were reported from suspected cases. A total of 42 deaths from suspected cases were reported since August 22. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Health Minister K K Shailaja said the situation was under control but sought continued caution from people engaged in the ongoing post-flood relief and cleaning exercise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The numbers are not alarming considering the extent of the flood-affected areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She said most of the relief workers had taken preventive medicine (Doxycycline) before starting their work in the affected areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two men who died of suspected leptospirosis on Monday – Renju (30) from Pathanamthitta and Anil (54) from Kozhikode – had volunteered in rescue and rehabilitation drives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“There’s a need to exercise great caution during the next three weeks,” the minister said after a review meeting in Kozhikode, the worst-hit district.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Six of the 11 deaths since August 15 were reported in Kozhikode.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">What is Leptospirosis?</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that spreads through water or soil contaminated by the infected animals. It spreads faster in flood conditions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Health Minister said the state was also facing possibilities of more dengue cases.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In August, 279 cases of dengue were confirmed and one death was reported. On Monday, 11 cases were confirmed.</p>
<p class="title">Kerala recorded two more deaths from confirmed leptospirosis (rat fever) cases on Monday even as the number of suspected cases continued to rise.</p>.<p class="title">Since August 22, 11 deaths due to leptospirosis have been reported. Six of these 11 deaths were reported since September 1.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two deceased on Monday are Nirmala (49), from Palakkad, and Narayani (80), from Kozhikode.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A total of 71 confirmed cases were reported on Monday and eight deaths were reported from suspected cases. A total of 42 deaths from suspected cases were reported since August 22. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Health Minister K K Shailaja said the situation was under control but sought continued caution from people engaged in the ongoing post-flood relief and cleaning exercise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The numbers are not alarming considering the extent of the flood-affected areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She said most of the relief workers had taken preventive medicine (Doxycycline) before starting their work in the affected areas.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two men who died of suspected leptospirosis on Monday – Renju (30) from Pathanamthitta and Anil (54) from Kozhikode – had volunteered in rescue and rehabilitation drives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“There’s a need to exercise great caution during the next three weeks,” the minister said after a review meeting in Kozhikode, the worst-hit district.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Six of the 11 deaths since August 15 were reported in Kozhikode.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">What is Leptospirosis?</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that spreads through water or soil contaminated by the infected animals. It spreads faster in flood conditions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Health Minister said the state was also facing possibilities of more dengue cases.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In August, 279 cases of dengue were confirmed and one death was reported. On Monday, 11 cases were confirmed.</p>