Leptospirosis increasing in U.S : Deadly disease also spreading in India!

Leptospirosis  hazard in India – Cases of  natural leptospirosis, a deadly disease caused by exposure to rat urine, are on the rise in the US. This mysterious disease, known by  numerous names, Weil’s disease, spreads slowly throughout the country and is often ignored. A health alert issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene described the disease as” a zoonotic disease that’s current globally and is caused by several species of spirochete bacteria of the genus Leptospira.” But what exactly is this situation, and why should the Indian population be so concerned about it? Here are all the details you need to know about leptospirosis, its causes, effects and  preventative approaches.

 What’s the disease?  :- Leptospirosis is no stranger to the world; It’s one of the most  usual zoonotic infections globally. The spirochete bacterium behind this disease is Leptospirosis, which is  substantially spread through the urine of infected  creatures. The range of carriers is huge, from farm  creatures like cattle and pigs and indeed rats to wild creatures like raccoons and porcupines. The urine of infected  creatures contains the germs, which can survive for weeks in a warm,  sticky  atmosphere. The incubation period commonly lasts 5 to 14 days, ranging from 2 to 30 days. It’s spread through contact with infected urine – defiled food, drinks, soil and other materials, as well as through open wounds and mucous membranes. Patients  generally contract the disease through direct contact with rat urine or through  defiled soil, food, drinks, etc. at home or work.  

India’s fight against leptospirosis :- Struggling with significant mortality and morbidity rates, India stands out as a hotspot for leptospirosis. Leptospirosis outbreaks are progressively being recorded in coastal areas like Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Despite its  wide presence, awareness of the disease is low, which is further compounded by inadequate  individual facilities in  numerous areas. Agrarian activities  similar as paddy  culture, as well as businesses involving underground sewers, or indeed homes that are  constantly attacked by  creatures  similar as rats, serve as common pathways for exposure.  

What are its signs and symptoms? :- The spread of leptospirosis depends on a variety of factors, including contact with  polluted water, soil, or food  defiled with the urine of infected  creatures. The bacteria can survive for long  times outside the host, hiding in  surroundings where humans intentionally come into contact. Symptoms of leptospirosis manifest differently, ranging from fever and muscle aches to  antipathy and gastrointestinal complications. still, the  artifice of these symptoms  frequently leads to misdiagnosis or indeed cases being ignored by doctors, allowing the  complaint to spread rapidly. Also keep in mind that this is a rapidly progressive disease that can start as  antipathy and can soon become fatal, so immediate care and action is  demanded. 

 Strategies for disease prevention –  While the  threat of leptospirosis is great,  preventative measures provide a  guard against its attack. It’s important to avoid contact with potentially  defiled water bodies and wear defensive clothing in high-  threat  surroundings. Keep your homes as free from rats as possible. Public awareness  movements play an important  job in educating communities about the risks associated with leptospirosis and promoting early discovery and treatment. Keep all your  implements clean and wash them twice before using. It was also advised to throw away empty  drums or beer bottles as these could also be a breeding ground for  creatures.