Leptospirosis
Why in news?
Jamaica is currently facing an outbreak of leptospirosis following Hurricane Melissa, which struck as a Category 5 storm in late October 2025. The outbreak is linked to contaminated stagnant water caused by heavy flooding and landslides from the hurricane.
About
- Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Leptospira species, with over 500,000 cases globally each year and around 60,000 deaths.
- It mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions, especially during rainy or flood seasons.
- The case fatality rate can exceed 10%, particularly in severe cases like Weil’s disease.
- It affects both humans and animals, with higher prevalence in coastal areas and among farmers.
Causes
- The bacterial infection spreads through contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with urine from infected animals such as rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
- Entry into the human body occurs through cuts, abrasions, mucous membranes, or sometimes intact skin.
- Risk factors include exposure to floodwaters, contaminated water sources, agricultural work, and poor sanitation.
Symptoms
- Early signs mimic flu: fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Conjunctival suffusion (redness of the eyes) is common.
- Severe manifestations include jaundice, kidney damage, bleeding, meningitis, and respiratory distress.
- Weil’s syndrome is the fatal form, presenting with multi-organ failure.
- Symptoms usually appear 2-30 days after exposure.
Treatment
- Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment (doxycycline or penicillin) are effective.
- Supportive care in hospitals is necessary for severe cases to manage complications like kidney failure or respiratory distress.
- Preventive antibiotic use may be recommended for high-risk individuals after exposure.
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