Nearly ten-fold increase in leptospirosis cases in May

COLOMBO (News1st): The number of leptospirosis cases that stood at 132 in April this year, had risen to 1014 in May, recording an increase of 882 cases although only an increase of 197 cases had been recorded from April to May last year. The number of leptospirosis cases which stood at 311 in April last year had increased up to 508 in May. However, the number of cases has shown a 136 percent increase in May this year compared to the same month last year while it has risen 99.6 percent in April this year against last year's April. Official figures show that leptospirosis has affected 2820 people so far in 2020. “…there is a possibility of experiencing an increase in the leptospirosis incidence, especially in areas where paddy cultivation is prevalent,” chief epidemiologist Dr Sudath Samaraweera said. The Epidemiology Unit, in May, had urged preventive action against the disease, as farmers, who are highly susceptible to the disease, ramp up agriculture during the ‘Yala’ cultivation season which runs from May to August.