Sept 12, Colombo: Fatal Leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever is raising its head in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, health sources said.

Six patients identified as suffering from Leptospirosis died in Southern Province Matara General Hospital in the past three months.

According to Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Matara, T. M. Lalith de Silva, 20 Leptospirosis deaths were reported from Matara General Hospital in 2006.

Leptospirosis also known as Weil's disease, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever and many more is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals. There is a common misconception that the disease is associated only with rats. In Sri Lanka, it is believed to spread mostly among the paddy field farmers.