Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is an illness caused by bacteria called Leptospira. It can affect both people and animals. The disease is more common in warm, tropical places, and can spread more easily after heavy rain or floods. Most people get better with antibiotics but sometimes, leptospirosis can be serious and in very rare cases, lead to death.
Signs and symptoms
Some people might not have any symptoms, while others may have:
- fever
- headache
- vomiting or feeling sick (nausea)
- sore or red eyes, and
- muscle pain, especially in the calves.
In some cases, people may get very sick and have:
- kidney problems
- yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
- bleeding
- trouble breathing
- swelling or irritation of the heart or brain.
Treatment
Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics. People who get very sick may need to go to hospital for care.
Transmission
Leptospirosis spreads through the urine (wee) of infected animals, including rodents (rats and mice), livestock (cattle and pigs), horses and dogs. You can get it by:
- touching water, soil or mud that has the bacteria
- getting the bacteria into your body through cuts, open wounds, or through the eyes, nose or mouth
- breathing in dust or tiny drops of water that contains the bacteria.
People who are at more risk of getting leptospirosis are:
- people who work near animals or where animals such as rodents are found (like farmers, banana workers, crop pickers, vets, meat workers), and
- people who do outdoor activities near water (like walking in the bush, camping, gardening, water sports, or swimming in dams and rivers).
It is very rare for leptospirosis to spread from person to person. People with leptospirosis do not need to take extra steps to stop it spreading.
Prevention
You can reduce your risk of getting leptospirosis by:
- washing cuts and sores with clean water and covering them with waterproof dressings before touching soil, mud or water
- wearing gloves when gardening and closed-in shoes when outdoors
- washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after being outside or around animals
- cleaning your hands before eating, drinking, smoking or vaping.
- not drinking untreated water from lakes, rivers or ponds
- keeping your home and work environment free of mice and rats by cleaning up waste and food
- keeping out of floodwater and wearing closed-in shoes or boots if walking through mud from floodwater.
People at higher risk (due to their jobs) should also:
- shower after work
- wear protective items (like closed-in shoes, gloves, goggles, aprons, or long-sleeved shirts) when touching animals, animal parts, or feed, or working where animals may have been, such as on banana farms
- wash clothes that have touched animal bodies, tissues or fluids.
Health outcome
You can get leptospirosis more than once. This is because there are different types (strains) of the bacteria.
Other resources
Help and assistance
If you are in an emergency situation, call 000
Get qualified health advice 24/7 for the cost of a local call, by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
For further information, please contact your local doctor, community health centre or nearest public health unit.