The Agriculture Ministry is calling on people in the flood affected areas to take extra care as Leptospirosis can be passed on from animals to humans.

The Director Animal, Health and Production, Shiu Chand said this disease as important for humans as it is for animals as the Leptospira bacteria loves stagnant water.

He said the flood waters coming in from the interior and mountain where the wild pigs live will bring in the bacteria down to the farming area.

Chand is calling on people to wash their hands properly with soap and clean water after handling dead animals and while moving around in stagnant water, wear covered shoes or boots and gloves.

He is urging parents to see that their children do not swim in pooled or stagnant water and boil all drinking water.