BANGALORE: After Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, the Government of India’s pilot project to control Leptospirosis has now launched in Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka. The state Health Department’s estimates revealed that these two districts have been witnessing spurt in the Leptospirosis cases.According to estimates, the total number of cases from January till August were 215, of which 73 were reported from Dakshin Kannada and 44 from Shimoga. In August alone, as many as 20 cases from Dakshin Kannada and five from Shimoga were recorded by the department. The department also recorded a total of nine deaths across the state till August this year.Due to backwater rivers, sugarcane production and agriculture, the cases of severe Leptospirosis are increasingly been reported in Shimoga and Dakshin Kannada, added Dr Chaluvaraj, joint director, Health and Family Welfare Department.Sponsored by the Union health ministry, the pilot project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to Leptospirosis. The pilot project envisages strengthening infrastructure and manpower. The capacity building training though information, education and communication (IEC) will be given to the district surveillance officer, deputy director of animal husbandry, lab technicians and microbiologists who are expected to train medical officers. Besides, the district surveillance labs facility are being strengthen and rapid diagnostic kits can also be purchased under the programme.The budget allocated for the programme is Rs. 39.47 lakh, out of which the state has released 15 lakh for each district. The programme will further be extended to other parts like Tumkur and Udupi though they have adequate infrastructure to control Leptospirosis, he added.
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