What is leptospirosis?Two types of leptospirosis infection can affectworkers in the UK.

ll Weil's diseaseThis is a serious and sometimes fatalinfection that is transmitted to humans bycontact with urine from infected rats.

ll The Hardjo form of leptospirosisThis is transmitted from cattle to humans.

What are the symptoms?Both diseases start with a flu-like illness witha persistent and severe headache, which canlead to vomiting and muscle pains andultimately to jaundice, meningitis and kidneyfailure. In rare cases the diseases can be fatal.

Who is at risk?Anyone who is exposed to rats, rat or cattleurine or to fetal fluids from cattle is at risk.

Farmers are now the main group at risk forboth Weil's disease and cattle leptospirosis:the cattle form is a special risk for dairyfarmers.

Other people who have contractedleptospirosis in recent years include vets,meat inspectors, butchers, abattoir and sewerworkers.

Workers in contact with canal and river waterare also at risk.

How might I catch it?The bacteria can get into your body throughcuts and scratches and through the lining ofthe mouth, throat and eyes after contact withinfected urine or contaminated water, such asin sewers, ditches, ponds and slow-flowingrivers. People working in dairy parlours areoften in contact with cattle urine. Rat urinemay also contaminate animal feed stuffs onfarms.

How can I prevent it?ll Get rid of rats. Don't touch them with

unprotected hands. ll Consult your vet about the cattle infection.ll Wash cuts and grazes immediately with

soap and running water and cover all cutsand broken skin with waterproof plastersbefore and during work.

ll Wear protective clothing.

ll Wash your hands after handling anyanimal, or any contaminated clothing orother materials and always before eating,drinking or smoking.

What else should I do?Report any illness to your doctor. Tell thedoctor about your work and show this card.Leptospirosis is much less severe if it istreated promptly. If your doctor decides youhave leptospirosis tell your employer, whomust then report it to the Incident ContactCentre (Tel: 0845 300 9923). If you are self-employed you must report it yourself.

To the doctorThe card holder's work may expose him/herto the danger of leptospirosis (either L.icterohaemorrhagiae or L. hardjo). Earlydiagnosis and treatment are vital in Weil'sdisease as jaundice is often absent in theearly stages. The illness in L. hardjo may alsobe greatly shortened by appropriate antibiotictreatment. (Your local Public HealthLaboratory Service or hospital consultantmicrobiologist should be able to offer adviceand serological testing.)

Further information

You or your doctor can get further informationfrom the Employment Medical AdvisoryService at any office of the Health and SafetyExecutive.

HSE priced and free publications are availableby mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999,Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA Tel: 01787 881165Fax: 01787 313995 Website:www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE priced publicationsare also available from bookshops and freeleaflets can be downloaded from HSE’swebsite: www.hse.gov.uk.)

For information about health and safety ringHSE’s Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845408 9566 Textphone: 0845 408 9577 e-mail:hse.infoline@natbrit.com or write to HSEInformation Services, Caerphilly BusinessPark, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

This leaflet is available in priced packs of 20from HSE Books, ISBN 978 0 7176 2546 8.Single free copies are also available fromHSE Books.

© Crown copyright This publication may befreely reproduced, except for advertising,endorsement or commercial purposes. Firstpublished 3/90. Please acknowledge thesource as HSE.

INDG84 Reprinted 06/07 C1000

Printed and published by the Health andSafety Executive

This leaflet contains notes on good practicewhich are not compulsory but which youmay find helpful in considering what youneed to do.