While announcing the fund for lepto research during a workshop inaugurated by State governor Sunder Singh Bhandari at Gandhi Smruti Bhawan in the city on Sunday, State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt stated that compared to previous years, there had been a decline in the number of patients affected by the disease.

He, however, added that the percentage of people dying due to the disease was 7.8 per cent, which had to be brought down. ``Leptospirosis deaths should decrease and effective medication and research is essential,'' he said.

While Rs 15 lakhs of the Rs 50 lakhs will be given to the Surat Government Medical College, the remaining amount will be shared between the government hospitals of Navsari and Valsad districts.

Providing figures regarding the disease, Bhatt said 71 villages of the State had been affected by the disease in 1994, 13 in 1995, 37 in 1996, 344 in 1997 and another 295 in 1998. While 42 people died of the disease last year, all of them were from districts of South Gujarat. He however added that the cases of the disease had shown a decline in 1998 after concerted efforts.

Earlier, inaugurating the workshop entitled `War Against Leptospirosis', the governor stressed for a joint effort by researchers, doctors and other health workers to bring down incidences of leptospirosis. He added that special efforts should be made to simplify treatment procedures and keep a constant vigil of the tribal areas for the disease.

According to Bhandari, good health of the people was a prerequisite in development and growth of a state and that no efforts should be spared in ensuring it.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Union Minister Kashiram Rana, District Collector Sangeeta Singh and Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan.

It may be noted that leptospirae -- the virus causing leptospirosis -- enters the human body through water or other medium and are found in abundance in urine of rodents, mainly rats. The virus enters the blood stream through cuts and bruises in the hands or feet. A majority of the people contracting the disease are labourers and are affected during the monsoons when water is abundant.