There have been rumours of a possible outbreak of plague in these areas, but the Department has said attention should be focussed on countering leptospirosis, which was more likely to occur here. Health Minister Ashok Bhatt announced today that 22 persons died of leptospirosis in Navsari, Surat and Valsad districts of South Gujarat during the current monsoon. Over 300 people in the State were affected with leptospirosis, the disease that spreads due to rat bite, Bhatt told reporters here today. Farmers and farm labourers mostly fell prey to the disease, he added.

Health Department officials said the chances of leptospirosis spreading in the water-logged areas were quite high, adding that the disease was spread by rodents. It is a Zoonotic disease, which can be passed on to human beings from animals.

They added it was very difficult to prevent theoutbreak of leptospirosis as animals carrying the disease did not show symptoms. Though there are chances of leptospirosis spiralling after the floods, especially in Surat, detection of the disease cannot be done in Gujarat as there are no laboratories here. The serum samples have to be sent to Tamil Nadu for investigation.

The department has geared up to prevent the outbreak and check the spread of other diseases due to the death of animals in floods. Teams of veterinary doctors have been sent to the affected areas. The department has also set up control rooms to give information about disease prevention.

Officials said the occurrence of Haemorragic Septiceamia (HS) -- a deadly disease -- was possible in animals. During 1997-98, about 658 animals died of the disease before the floods.

Anthrax is another possible disease, which has zoonotic symptoms. This disease showed up in Bharuch district before the floods. The district collector issued a notification to bury the dead infected animals withoutopening them, so as to preempt chances of its spreading.

The relief work for animals in the State began on Saturday. Asked why action was initiated so late, officials said the government's priority was to save human lives. Once the waters receded, relief work for animals could begin, they added.

Other possible post-flood zoonotic diseases are rabies, tuberculosis, brucellosis and pullorum. Pullorum is seen in birds and can spread through the eggs and chicken of infected birds.Officials said the animals return to their respective homes, sometimes even after weeks. They said the animals would die only when kept tied.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and the department have scotched rumours of an outbreak of plague in South Gujarat.