Sri Lanka, Aug. 11 -- The potentially fatal leptospirosis (rat fever) disease is currently on the rise, according to Dr. Deepal Perera, a pediatric specialist at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital in Colombo.

Dr. Perera noted that leptospirosis is most often contracted through exposure to contaminated and muddy water.

He revealed this during a media briefing held in Colombo today (11).

Dr. Deepal Perera stated that this period coincides with school holidays, during which children often visit paddy fields or open areas to fly kites among other activities- a major contributing factor to the increase in cases.

He added that if a fever lasts for about five to six days, it could be a symptom of leptospirosis.

Other symptoms include red...