Now Reading: Telangana leptospirosis cases surge 125-fold in two years
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Telangana leptospirosis cases surge 125-fold in two years
Telangana has recorded the steepest proportional rise in leptospirosis cases in India, with confirmed infections jumping from just two in 2023 to 249 in 2025, a nearly 125-fold increase. Rajya Sabha data…
The Story in Brief
Telangana has recorded the steepest proportional rise in leptospirosis cases in India, with confirmed infections jumping from just two in 2023 to 249 in 2025, a nearly 125-fold increase. Rajya Sabha data tabled recently shows Kerala reported the highest absolute number (4,001), followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Telangana’s surge is the sharpest, ahead of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Leptospirosis, spread through water or soil contaminated with infected animal urine, especially from rodents, typically spikes after heavy rains and flooding. Doctors in Hyderabad now see 10, 15 cases a month. Early symptoms mimic viral fever, but untreated cases can cause kidney failure or death. Specialists urge people to avoid walking through floodwater and to seek treatment promptly if fever develops after exposure.
The Indian Opinion
The 125-fold jump in Telangana's leptospirosis cases is alarming, but attributing it solely to erratic rainfall overlooks the role of poor drainage and unchecked rodent populations in urban areas. While the Centre and state track monsoon diseases, prevention often gets lost between multiple departments. Watch for the upcoming full-year data: if cases keep climbing outside the monsoon, it will confirm a systemic public-health failure, not just a weather problem.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
