What is it?
Weils Disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. There are over 200 hundred types or strains of this bacterium that are capable of causing human disease.
Where can it be caught?
Weils disease is mainly associated with people who have close contact with water courses as part of their job or hobby. The bacterium is carried in the urine of rats and other rodents. The very nature of these creatures is to continuously urinate over the area they travel. Due to this and considering that rats are commonly found in aquatic environments, the following areas and activities may carry a risk of transmission.
Areas:
River banks, canals, ditches, ponds, lake water, stagnant water courses.
Jobs:
Farming, sewer working, mining, fish working.
Activities:
Recreational bathing i.e. aquadromes, rivers etc., rowing, sailing, campers, water skiing, sportsmen/women.
The bacterium which is present in water and moist vegetation/soil etc. gains access to the body by entering via scratches on the skin, or inhalation of contaminated water droplets. Occasionally this disease has been caught through contaminated foods.
How long until symptoms develop?
The incubation period is around 10 days on average, however this may vary between 4 and 19 days.
What are the symptoms?
These may vary but generally consist of fever with sudden onset (flu like), headache, chills, severe calf and thigh pain. Other symptoms may be conjunctivitis and/or jaundice, meningitis, rash, kidney and liver damage requiring hospitalisation. Each person may show either one or a combination of the above symptoms. Always mention to your GP if you have had any contact with the previously mentioned activities.
How long do the symptoms last?
Symptoms may last anything from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Recovery however may take several months. Some infections may show no symptoms at all. The fatality rate is higher in the elderly and those who have had kidney involvement.
If you have any further questions regarding any of the above, please feel free to contact the Environmental Health Department on 01727 866100 extension 2450 or 2444.
Remember
Cover all cuts, sores or other skin abrasions including eczema, with waterproof plasters.
Wash your hands before eating foods.
Always wash/bath after any watersport activities.
If sailing or canoeing, avoid capsizing, try wearing a nose clip.
If ill after any water involvement, seek medical advice immediately.
If you are ill, pay particular attention to personal hygiene. Always wash your hands after visiting the toilet, and before handling food. This will help prevent the spread of infection to others.