WHAT IS LEPTOSPIROSIS?
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/eptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria which live in the kidneys and genitals of many types of animals.
/eptospirosis is a oonotic disease, meaning it can affect both humans and animals.
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/eptospirosis usually starts with flu-like symptoms. Symptoms usually start within - days, but can appear as soon as days, or up to days after contact with the bacteria.
It can cause a wide range of symptoms, but many of these can be mistaken for other diseases. In addition, some infected persons may have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms include
• igh fever
• eadache
• hills
• 0uscle aches
• omiting
• -aundice (yellow skin and eyes
• 5ed eyes bdominal 3ain iarrhoea
5ash
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nyone can get /eptospirosis, but some are more at risk due to their location and their work in Fiji. 7he cyclone season also increases the risk of /eptospirosis due to higher rainfall and flooding.
Some e amples of workers at risk
• Farmers
• rop farmers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Fish workers
• airy farmers
owever, household transmission of leptospirosis has become increasingly common in urban areas with poor overall sanitation infrastructures.
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5ats, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, horses and mongooses can carry and spread infection but some animals may have no symptoms of the disease.
attle with leptospirosis sometimes abort in the last trimester or you might notice a sudden drop in milk production in a large number of your milking cows.
3eople can get infected by contact with water, flood, mud, food which has been contaminated by urine or body fluids from infected animals. 5ats visiting the kitchen of homes can also contaminate food and utensils with feces and urine. 7he bacteria can survive in soil or water for weeks, even months.
3et animals particularly unvaccinated dogs can easily get infected from their environment or from rats and mongooses. nd humans handling their sick pets are at risk of getting infected. Spreading the disease from one person to another is possible but not common.
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7he bacteria gets into your body through cuts scratches or broken skin or through the eyes, mouth or nose.
ou can get it while
• rinking contaminated water
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Wading in flood waters
3laying in rivers or lakes unting
ardening in farm soil, working with crops
Walking barefoot in paddocks or gardens
7ouching sick animals
(ating or drinking contaminated food or water Smoking without washing your hands after animal contact leaning out sheds where animals live especially rats, mice, mongoose etc.
Working in forests
Sharing utensils family members
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treatment
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a with sick
Without treatment, /eptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord , liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.
If you or anyone you know has any of the above symptoms, you should seek urgent medical attention at your nearest healthcare facility.
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is key to preventing complications and deaths. ny cattle abortions should be reported to your locality officers and veterinarians of the 0inistry of griculture for further investigation.
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voiding wading swimming in waters that may be contaminated with animal urine, especially flood waters. Wearing protective clothing and footwear when working with livestock.
Separating households from livestock e.g. through the use of fences pens.
5egular household cleaning. etting rid of rats in the household.
.eeping your food and eating cooking utensils away from rats and pets
Washing fruits and vegetables. 7ake care during milking of cows to ensure urine does not splash into eyes or mouth.