COLOMBO, Oct. 13 -- Sri Lankan health authorities have identified 12 districts as high-risk zones for the spread of leptospirosis (commonly known as rat fever), amid growing concern over the rising number of infections in farming communities.

Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament that the high-risk districts are predominantly areas with extensive agricultural activity, where thousands of people work in paddy fields and irrigated lands. He warned that the risk of infection increases significantly during the cultivation season as farmers are frequently exposed to contaminated water and soil.

"Leptospirosis is not just a rural health issue; it is a national concern. Most cases are reported from paddy farming r...