Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a group of bacteria called Leptospira.

Humans can get Leptospirosis by coming into contact with the urine of infected animals.

Rats are a common source of the disease.

Leptospirosis in the Northern Territory (NT)

In the NT, there are usually 1 to 4 cases every year.

In 2021, there was an outbreak of 10 cases among cattle workers.

Other cases have included people from:

• rural area of Darwin
• Fogg Dam and Harrison Dam area
• Oenpelli
• Finniss River
• Katherine district.

Areas with high rat populations may increase the risk of the disease. The native dusky rats (Rattus colletti) are common to the Fogg Dam and Harrison Dam area.

Cases in the NT have also been related to :

• turtle hunting
• duck and goose hunting
• working with crocodile, including egg collection.

How it is spread

Leptospirosis is spread by the urine of infected animals.

Domestic and wild animals can spread the disease.

While rats are often the cause of an infection, the disease is spread by other animals, such as:

• pigs
• cattle
• dogs
• possums
• bats.

Infected animals pass the bacteria through their urine into:

• water
• wet soil
• vegetation.

People can be infected when coming into contact with contaminated sources.

The bacteria gets into your body through:

• cuts in the skin and open sores
• the  mouth (swallowing water)
• the lining of the eyes, mouth and nose.

Leptospirosis is not spread person to person.

Most at risk

The risk of becoming infected with Leptospirosis is higher in areas around water and after flooding.

People most at risk are those who:

• have close contact with animals
• are exposed to :
  • water
  • wet soil
  • vegetation

Some occupations can increase your risk of infection, these include:

• abattoir workers
• farmers
• veterinarians
• rice and sugarcane field workers.

Recreational activities can also increase your risk of exposure, these include:

• camping
• bushwalking
• gardening
• white water rafting
• kayaking
• hunting.

Symptoms

Most people who are infected will have mild or no symptoms. Rarely does it cause death.

Symptoms typically start around 5 to 14 days after coming into contact with the infected urine. However, they can start anywhere between 2 to 30 days later.

The duration of sickness can vary from a few days to 3 weeks or more.

If symptoms start, they can come on suddenly, you may experience:

• fever
• headaches
• chills
• severe muscle pain, especially in the legs
• red eyes.

Other symptoms can include:

• cough
• chest pain
• stomach pain
• diarrhoea
• vomiting.

Sometimes the infection can become more serious, this is called Weil’s disease. Symptoms include:

• yellow skin or eyes, known as jaundice
• bleeding
• trouble breathing
• confusion.

Treatment

Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics.

It is important to get treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of developing severe illness.

Prevention

There is no human vaccination against the disease.

You can reduce your risk of Leptospirosis by:

• avoiding swimming, working or playing in flood waters
• covering cuts or scrapes with waterproof dressings
• washing hands and arms after handling animals or carcasses
• showering if you come into contact with water or soil contaminated with animal urine
• wearing the following when handling animals:
  • gloves
  • eye shields
  • aprons
  • boots
• speaking with your vet about pet and farm animal vaccination
• controlling working dogs and feral or wild animal around the home
• avoiding feeding pets raw offal or feral meat as it may infect them.

Information for health professionals

To find out more go to the NT Health website.

Contact

For more information call your nearest  Centre for Disease Control.