Atleast 450 patients have been treated at New Civil Hospital here in last three months. On Friday, four farm labourers identified as Bharat Harpati (26) of Gandevi taluka in Navsari, Rekha Patel (22) and Mohan Harpati (45) -- residents of Chilkhli taluka in Navsari district and Soma Patel (50) of Palsana taluka in Surat district -- died after being inflicted by the bacteria

Efforts of health officials and the administration to bring about awareness and educate labourers about precautions have not yielded the desired results yet.

Professor of Medicine at New Civil Hospital Dr Sameer Trivedi said, "This time, the disease is changing its pattern as the bacteria is affecting the lungs. Earlier it was the kidneys that were affected. Even a team of physicians from the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) visited Surat and examined several patients to find out the reasons for the same bacteria affecting different sets of organs. We have conducted seminars and even screened a film to spread awareness among farmers. The medical officers and para medical workers have also been given the requisite know-how about this deadly disease. We have treated 100 patients for alveolar pulmonary haemorrhage and have also cured 55 of them. In most of the cases, the patient approached us when it was already too late for treatment."

"This disease mainly occurs in farm labourers who work in fields without shoes and gloves. The Leptospira bacteria enters the human body through soles of the feet and later gradually circulates in the body damaging various organs," says Dr. Ratan Shrivastav, Associate Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) at New Civil Hospital.