The Epidemiology Unit indicated that there is a spike in leptospirosis cases (rat fever) reported this month, and that it has increased threefold in comparison to the cases reported in April. Accordingly, in April the number of reported leptospirosis cases stood at 122, while the number of cases over the past weeks was 421. For the month of May, the Ratnapura Regional Director Health Service (RDHS) office recorded the highest number of cases at 167, which was followed by Kalutara (50), Kegalle (43), Ampara (29), and Galle (28). Epidemiology Unit Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, speaking to The Morning said: “When the paddy cultivation cycle starts, we observe an increase in leptospirosis cases. In addition to that, people living in flood- affected areas have a tendency to contract leptospirosis. The Epidemiology Unit has taken the necessary measures to create awareness about preventive measures that can be adopted by high-risk groups. State hospitals in these respective regions have also been directed to provide doxycycline chemoprophylaxis to vulnerable groups.” A total of 1,860 cases of leptospirosis were reported for the period from 1 January to 21 May throughout the country, with the Ratnapura RDHS reporting the highest number of cases at 467, followed by Galle (200), Kalutara (174), Badulla (131), and Anuradhapura (120).