23 persons have died due to rat fever (leptospirosis) in the state in the past 5 days. The Health Department has issued high alert and issued necessary precautions to stop the spread of the disease.

In Kozhikode district alone, 8 persons lost their lives due to leptospirosis. Rat fever was reported in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Malappuram besides Kozhikode on Friday.

Leptospirosis is transmitted from animals to humans through infected urine.

On Friday, as many as 134 people have approached various hospitals showing symptoms of the disease. More number of patients were reported in Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur districts. 97 persons have lost their lives due to rat fever in the last 8 months in the state.

Those who develop symptoms, including fever and jaundice, have been advised to avoid self-treatment and consult the nearest health centre.