Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes leptospirosis as a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals that can cause a wide range of symptoms, or not at all. Some symptoms may be mistaken for other diseases. Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress and even death.
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months according to the CDC. Humans can become infected through:
• Contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) from infected animals.
• Contact with water, soil or food contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
CDC reports that leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. It is an occupational hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals, such as:
• Farmers
• Mine workers
• Sewer workers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Veterinarians and animal caretakers
• Fish workers
• Dairy farmers
• Military personnel
The disease has also been associated with swimming, wading, kayaking and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. In addition, leptospirosis infections among urban children appears to be increasing.
The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, or eliminating contact with potentially infected animals according to the CDC. Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.
These are just a few of the many things to know about exposure risks to Leptospira. To learn more about this or other microbial, environmental, occupational, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes leptospirosis as a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals that can cause a wide range of symptoms, or not at all. Some symptoms may be mistaken for other diseases. Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, respiratory distress and even death.
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months according to the CDC. Humans can become infected through:
• Contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) from infected animals.
• Contact with water, soil or food contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
CDC reports that leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. It is an occupational hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals, such as:
• Farmers
• Mine workers
• Sewer workers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Veterinarians and animal caretakers
• Fish workers
• Dairy farmers
• Military personnel
The disease has also been associated with swimming, wading, kayaking and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. In addition, leptospirosis infections among urban children appears to be increasing.
The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, or eliminating contact with potentially infected animals according to the CDC. Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.
These are just a few of the many things to know about exposure risks to Leptospira. To learn more about this or other microbial, environmental, occupational, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
