Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Tuesday ordered all the 76 provinces across the country to be on alert for the emergence of leptospirosis.

The ministry said a total of 587 people were found infected by the virus and 15 died from the disease recently.

Prat Boonyawongvirot, the ministry's permanent secretary, was quoted by local news group. The Nation as saying that the most infectious cases were found during the rainy season.

He said people with cuts or rashes on their legs who wade through floodwater are 15 times more risky of contracting the disease.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus. Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

In humans, leptospirosis causes a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or rash.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2008)