Doctors in the UAE warn travelers about the risks of leptospirosis, commonly called rat fever. This comes after a Dubai-based Indian expatriate died during a visit to Kerala.
Teejo George, 48, a senior sales supervisor at a Dubai-based engineering consultancy, died at a hospital in Kannur on August 8. He was admitted two days before developing diarrhoea and body pain. Subsequent laboratory tests confirmed leptospirosis.
The case has renewed concerns over infection risks for expatriates visiting Kerala during the monsoon, when stagnant water, flooding and contaminated surroundings can increase exposure.
Dr. Bashirat L. Giwa, infectious disease consultant at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi, said, “Rat fever is a loose term. Rat fever usually refers to rat-bite fever, a rare, serious bacterial illness transmitted by rodents. It can also refer to leptospirosis, a different bacterial disease spread through water or soil contaminated by rat urine. The incubation period for leptospirosis is typically 5 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria, though symptoms can begin anywhere between 2 and 30 days.”
When left untreated, leptospirosis can be fatal within days. Extreme cases lead to liver and kidney damage, difficulty breathing, and bleeding.
Symptoms of severe leptospirosis include jaundice, dark-colored urine, decreased urination, swollen feet, difficulty breathing, confusion, and seizures. Doctors warned that lack of jaundice does not mean absence of leptospirosis, as some of those infected do not show any signs of it.
UAE doctors have urged travelers to avoid floodwater and waterlogged areas. People cleaning flooded or rodent-infested homes should cover cuts, wear gloves and waterproof footwear, and avoid direct contact with animal waste.
Doctors advise anyone who develops a fever, severe muscle pain, or other symptoms after exposure to contaminated water or rodents to seek medical care promptly and disclose their travel and exposure history.
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