Over the past couple of weeks there have been several confirmed cases of Leptospirosis reported in Clarendon. So far four of the victims have died and seven others have been hospitalized. This week 15 cases have been confirmed with the disease in Manchester most of which are farmers. What is leptospires?
Leptospirosis is a disease that can be passed from animals to humans – such diseases are called zoonoses. It is a bacterial infection resulting from exposure to the Leptospira interrogans bacterium. Leptospirosis infects a variety of wild and domestic animals. Often the infected animal does not become ill. The bacteria are carried in the animal’s kidneys. They can excrete leptospires in their urine for some time, and spread infection to other animals or humans coming into direct or indirect contact with the urine. Leptospirosis is generally not transmitted from person to person. Animal hosts include rats and cattle.

Follow up:

Occupational exposure probably accounts for 30-50% of human cases. The main occupational groups at risk include farm workers, veterinarians, field agricultural workers, plumbers, meat handler or others whose occupation involves contact with animals, especially rats.
Flooding after heavy rainfall may spread the organism because, as water saturates the soil, leptospires pass directly into surface waters. The bacterium survives best in fresh water, damp alkaline soil, vegetation, and mud with temperatures higher than 22°C.
After the bacteria gains entry into the body, the organism multiplies in blood and tissue. The resulting leptospiremia can spread to any part of the body but particularly affects the liver and kidney. The incubation period is usually 10 days with a range of four to 19 days. The disease is diagnosed using specific blood tests available through public health laboratories.
The symptoms of leptospirosis are fever, headache, chills, vomiting, jaundice, muscular pains, conjunctivitis, anemia, inflammation of the kidneys and sometimes rash. In cases where jaundice occurs, the illness is known as Weil's disease and can be fatal.
Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin or doxycycline. For best results these should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be needed for people with more severe symptoms. Kidney dialysis may be necessary in some cases.
Disease prevention consists of good sanitation. The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine. Persons exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job should wear protective clothing. Cuts or abrasions should be covered with waterproof dressings before possible exposure and those received during activities should be thoroughly cleaned. Measures should be taken to reduce rodent populations, such as clearing rubbish and preventing rodent access into buildings.
Because of their outdoor activities, and frequent contact with water or soil contaminated with the organism, dog infections are not uncommon. Infected dogs theoretically pose a risk of transmission to their owners through contact with their urine, although such direct transmission has been infrequently documented.
The outbreaks seem to be concentrated in the areas that were badly affected by the recent flood rains. The authorities are calling on all persons to avoid flooded areas and urging farmers to wear proper protective gear.And remember, 'an once of prevention is betta dan a pound of cure'.
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