Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a group of bacteria called Leptospira.
In the NT, there are usually 1 to 4 cases every year.
Humans can get leptospirosis by coming into contact with the urine of infected animals.
Rats are a common source of the disease.
Where it's found
In the NT, there was an outbreak of 10 cases among cattle workers in 2021.
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, duck and goose hunting, and crocodiles including egg collection.
How it spreads
Leptospirosis is spread by the urine of infected animals through water, wet soil and vegetation.
It can get into your body through:
- cuts in the skin and open sores
- the mouth (swallowing water)
- the lining of the eyes, mouth and nose.
Rats are often the cause of an infection, but it can also be spread by other domestic and wild animals.
These include pigs, cattle, dogs, possums and bats.
it can't spread person to person.
Who is 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 or vegetation
- are abattoir workers, farmers, veterinarians, and rice and sugarcane field workers
- do recreational activities such as:
- 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 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.
When symptoms start, they can come on suddenly, and may include:
- fever
- headaches
- chills
- severe muscle pain, especially in the legs
- red eyes
- cough
- chest pain
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
- vomiting.
Sometimes the infection can become more serious and 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
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 gloves, eye shields, aprons and boots when handling animals
- 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.
There is no human vaccination against the disease.
Information for health professionals
To find out more, go to the NT Health website.
Contact
Contact your nearest Centre for Disease Control on the NT Health website.