Bantwal: Family Loses Two Youngsters to Rat Fever in Five Days

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (VM)

Bantwal, Aug 21: Two youngsters belonging to the same family died of rat fever or leptospirosis at Mithaparari in B Mooda in a span of just one week.

The deceased are Deepak (19) who died on Thursday August 16, and Praveen (17) who died at a hospital in Mangalore on Monday August 20. Both were sons of Seetaram Poojary.

Praveen and Deepak

Deepak, doing his second year BBM, and Praveen who was in first PUC, were students of Carmel Convent College.

Seetaram is also said to be a victim of rat fever and was admitted to hospital after the cremation of his sons. His wife Jyothi and daughter Swetha (15) are also suffering from fever, but doctors have not confirmed if it is rat fever. Tahsildar and health officer asked them to get admitted as a precautionary measure.

The family, striken by poverty, were dependent on daily wages and bidi rolling.  They were residing in a small house in five cents plot.

As soon the incident was brought to the notice of MLA Ramanath Rai, he visited the family and promised help. He said that he would personally meet the chief minister in this regard. K Harikrishna Bantwal of Billawa Maha Mandala promised monetary help to the family.

Ashwini Kumar Rai, local Congress leader, Ramakrishna Alva, Swarnalatha Malli, K K Poonja visited the family and assured their help.

To prevent further spread of the disease various measures have been taken by Rajesh, zilla health officer and Manjunath, taluk health officer. Blood samples of victims were sent to laboratory for further examination.

Dinesh Bhandary, municipality president said precautionary measurers will be taken to prevent further spread of rat fever. The surroundings of victims' house will be cleaned and 24 neighbouring houses have been alerted, he said.