Leptospirosis prevention measures have been intensified in Thiruvananthapuram as strengthening rainfall increases the risk of exposure to contaminated water and creates conditions for mosquito-borne diseases, the district medical office said in a statement. The health authority has urged residents to maintain personal hygiene, keep surroundings clean and participate in efforts to prevent infections during the rainy season.
The district medical office said people who need to enter waterlogged or contaminated areas should take doxycycline as a preventive measure against leptospirosis, strictly under the advice of health workers. The tablets are available free of cost at all healthcare institutions, according to the statement.
The guidance is particularly relevant to farmers, MGNREGS workers, sanitation workers, plumbers, painters and construction workers, as well as people who work in waterlogged areas, frequently come into contact with animals or are otherwise exposed to contaminated water. These groups face greater risk of contracting leptospirosis, a bacterial infection associated with exposure to water or soil contaminated by infected animals.
The health office advised people working in contaminated water to wear protective gloves and footwear. Those with wounds should avoid entering contaminated water or working in soil. Anyone who has to walk through contaminated water should wash their feet thoroughly with soap and clean water as soon as possible. The department also cautioned residents against self-medication.
Residents have been asked to seek treatment at the nearest health centre without delay if they develop symptoms including high fever, headache, muscle pain—particularly in the calf muscles—abdominal pain, vomiting, redness of the eyes or jaundice. The district medical office said early attention is important when such symptoms appear after possible exposure to contaminated water.
The rainfall has also raised concern about the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which can spread dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Intermittent rain can leave water standing in containers and other places around homes, workplaces and institutions, allowing mosquito larvae to develop. The health authorities have therefore called for intensified efforts to identify and remove breeding sites.
As part of the preventive drive, the health department has asked educational institutions to observe dry days on Fridays, workplaces on Saturdays and households on Sundays. During these checks, residents and institutions should inspect their premises and remove stagnant water from trays behind refrigerators, plates under flowerpots, unused toilets, water storage tanks, coconut shells, discarded containers and other unused materials.
The district medical office said eliminating stagnant water and maintaining cleanliness are essential to reducing mosquito breeding and limiting the risk of disease outbreaks during the rainy season. It also stressed that effective control would require public participation alongside measures by health authorities and institutions.
