What Is Leptospirosis And How To Avoid It

Do you have an upset stomach, or feel like nausea and vomiting? These are two symptoms linked to Leptospirosis illness that recently took one person's life in Karnataka's Vijayanagar.

What Is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is an illness that is caused by a bacteria called Leptospira. According to reports, you can get Leptospirosis through your nose, and mouth, scratches or cuts in your skin. It is a transmissible disease between animals and humans.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 million people are affected with Leptospirosis around the world each year, with nearly 60,000 deaths.

This disease is dangerous for animals and humans. And CDC reports that one can get this disease by coming into contact with contaminated water and soil by animal urine.

What Are The Symptoms Of Leptospirosis?

Some of the common symptoms seen in people who come into contact with Leptospirosis are body or muscle aches, fever, nausea and vomiting, rashes, stomach pain, red eyes, diarrhoea, headache, and chills, as per the CDC.

According to reports, this disease generally takes 2-30 days to fall sick after coming in contact with the bacteria. Leptospirosis disease comes in two phases. In phase 1, a person could experience, vomiting, diarrhoea etc and may get better within no time, but will fall ill again. However, in phase 2 of this disease, a person could experience kidney or liver failure, or inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord, as per CDC.

How To Avoid Leptospirosis?

To reduce the risk of getting infected with Leptospirosis, remember to avoid swimming that might be contaminated by an animal's urine, especially after heavy rainfall and floods.

Stay away from an infected animal. Wear a mask and cover cuts and scratches properly to avoid Leptospirosis. 

Always keep your hands clean and sanitized. Do not forget to keep your surroundings clean and disinfect equipment and other essentials that you use frequently. Lastly, do not forget to vaccinate your animal against Leptospirosis.