Health Department officials have ordered closure of a private engineering college near here after at least 15 students tested positive for ‘rat-bite fever’ or leptospirosis.

Sources in the Public Health Department said the affected students of the private engineering college at Mela Thidiyoor near here might have contracted the infection through contaminated water, rodent bite or contact with the rodent secretions.

Following information, the Public Health Department officials visited the college and lifted samples of water being supplied to the students.

The college administration was told to close down the institution until the situation improves.