MANGALORE, Jul 13 (TOI): A teenager from Sullia succumbed to leptospirosis (rat fever) at a private medical college hospital here on Monday. The district health and family welfare officer, Srirangappa, identified the victim as Manoj (19) from Kaiparka in Sampaje village of Sullia taluk. The youth, initially treated at Sullia, was later shifted to a private hospital at Puttur, from where he was shifted to the medical college hospital three days ago.

Srirangappa said the authorities of the medical college hospital had informed the department about the incident and the same was being verified. Rajesh, district surveillance officer said, this is the second incident of a person succumbing to rat fever in Dakshina Kannada since January this year. A person from Benjanapadavu primary health centre limits had succumbed to leptospirosis last month, Rajesh added.

The district has so far recorded a dozen cases of persons getting affected by leptospirosis since January. This includes seven from Mangalore taluk, three from Bantwal taluk, and two from Belthangady taluk, Rajesh said. Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles and is fatal.