UAE
Dubai expat dies from suspected rat fever during Kerala vacation
Teejo George, a long-term Dubai resident, died in Kannur after contracting suspected leptospirosis during his annual leave.
A long-term Indian expatriate residing in Dubai has died in his hometown in Kerala, India, after contracting suspected leptospirosis, commonly referred to as rat fever. Teejo George, 48, passed away at a hospital in Kannur on Saturday, 8 August, following a brief illness during his annual vacation. Rapid health decline George, who served as a senior sales supervisor for an engineering consultancy in Dubai, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, 6 August, suffering from diarrhoea and severe body pain. His brother, Reejo George, confirmed that medical professionals attributed the death to suspected leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that typically spikes during the monsoon season in Kerala. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals, primarily rodents. According to the World Health Organisation, the bacteria enter the body through skin abrasions or mucous membranes. While early symptoms include fever and muscle aches, severe cases can lead to kidney failure, liver damage, or meningitis. A pillar of the Dubai community George was a prominent figure within the UAE’s professional and social…