Leptospirosis, widely known as rat fever, is once again on the increase; with 41 deaths being reported this year up to the third week of April. Only 34 deaths were reported islandwide for the whole of 2007, Dr Nihal Abeysingha, chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health and Nutrition, said yesterday. The deadly disease has been reported from many paddy farming districts. A significant number of new cases have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Kegalle and Kalutara, he said. "The danger here is that the cause of the disease is not only water contaminated by rats. Water contaminated by the urine of cattle, goats, dogs and cats could be equally hazardous,' said Dr. Abeysingha. Patients, especially those from paddy farming areas, with high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, reddish eyes and vomiting should immediately seek hospital treatment. It will be easier for the doctor to distinguish Leptospirosis from other diseases if the patient discloses whether he remained in muddy water for long spells before he fell ill. An early diagnosis would enable doctors to treat him without delay, Dr. Abeysingha said. Dr. Abeysingha said that the elimination of environments where rats could breed would help to control the disease. He also warned against working in stagnant and murky water for long periods of time when you have open wounds on your body