Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have issued a warning to those who attended Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations held in paddy fields, cautioning that the risk of contracting rat fever is currently high.
PHI Union Treasurer M.A.C. Prasad told the Daily News that an increasing number of New Year events are being organised in newly harvested or abandoned paddy lands—a trend growing in popularity on social media.
“These events are now widely promoted online, and we expect many more to take place in the coming weeks,” Prasad said. “Rat fever is spreading rapidly. If you have participated in such an event, you must remain vigilant.”
He advised the public to seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of symptoms and to inform doctors of possible exposure to high-risk areas. Early symptoms of rat fever, also known as leptospirosis, often resemble the flu and include fever, headaches, muscle and joint pain, skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms typically appear within three to ten days of exposure.
