Two brothers die of rat fever, neighbors alerted

Two brothers die of rat fever, neighbors alerted

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Aug 21,2012 : Twenty-four families in Mihaparari have been alerted after a family in the neighborhood lost two of its teenaged members to leptospirosis (rat fever) within just one week. Municipality President Dinesh Bhandary said that the victims’ house and its surroundings will be thoroughly cleaned.

Deepak (19) and Praveen (17), both sons of Seetharam Poojary, died on August 16, Thursday and August 20, Monday, respectively. Deepak and Praveen were students of II BBM and I PUC at Carmel Convent College, respectively. The parents are daily wage workers and bidi rollers, and the family lives in a small house on a 5-cent plot.

The father Seetharam is also suspected to have developed rat fever and was admitted to hospital immediately after the final rites of his sons. His wife Jyothi and daughter Shwetha (15) are also suffering from fever, but doctors have not yet diagnosed it as rat fever. The health officer and the tahsildar have requested the family to get admitted at the earliest possible. The blood samples of the victims have already been sent to the lab for testing.

MLA Ramanath Rai visited the family and promised to help them, stating that he will personally meet the chief minister to discuss this issue. K. Harikrishna Bantwal of Billawa Maha Mandala also promised financial assistance for the family. Several other social leaders such as Ramakrishna Alva, Ashwini Kumar Rai, K. K. Poonja, and Swarnalatha Malli also visited the family and promised help.

Zilla Health Officer Rajesh and Taluk Health Officer Manjunath have taken all the required measures to prevent the further spread of this disease.