LEPTOSPIROSIS: ARE YOU AT RISK?
What is leptospirosis?
Two types of leptospirosis infection can affect workers in the UK.
- Weil's disease This is a serious and sometimes fatal infection that is transmitted to humans by contact with urine from infected rats.
- The Hardjo form of leptospirosis This is transmitted from cattle to humans.
What are the symptoms?
Both diseases start with a flu-like illness with a persistent and severe headache.
Who is at risk?
Anyone is at risk who is exposed to rats, rat or cattle urine or to fetal fluids from cattle.
Farmers are now the main group at risk for both Weil's disease and cattle leptospirosis: the cattle form is a special risk for dairy farmers.
Other workers who have contracted leptospirosis in recent years include: vets, meat inspectors, butchers, abattoir and sewer workers. Workers in contact with canal and river water are also at risk.
How might I catch it?
The bacteria can get into your body through cuts and scratches and through the lining of the mouth, throat and eyes after contact with infected urine or contaminated water, such as in sewers, ditches, ponds and slow-flowing rivers. Rat urine may also contaminate animal feed stuffs on farms.
How can I prevent it?
- Get rid of rats. Don't touch them with unprotected hands.
- Consult your vet about the cattle infection.
- Cover all cuts and broken skin with waterproof plasters before and during work.
- Wear protective clothing.
- Wash your hands after handling any animal, or any contaminated clothing or other materials, and always before eating, drinking or smoking.
What else should I do?
Report any illness to your doctor. Tell the doctor about your work, show this card. Leptospirosis is much less severe if it is treated promptly. If your doctor decides you have leptospirosis tell your employer, who should then report it to the Health and Safety Executive. If you are self-employed you should report it yourself.
- To the doctor The card holder's work may expose him/her to the danger of leptospirosis (either L. icterohaemorrhagiae or L. hardjo). Early diagnosis and treatment are vital in Weil's disease as jaundice is often absent in the early stages. The illness in L. hardjo may also be greatly shortened by appropriate antibiotic treatment. (Your local Public Health Laboratory Service or hospital consultant microbiologist should be able to offer advice and serological testing.)
- You or your doctor can get further information from the Employment Medical Advisory Service at any office of the Health and Safety Executive.
This information is reproduced from a leaflet published by the Health and Safety Executive
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