Posted ,
Reading 2 mins.
Cases of leptospirosis, a potentially fatal disease transmitted by rodents, are increasing in Reunion. 99 cases have been declared since the beginning of the year on the island.
Faced with the upsurge in cases of Leptospirosis on Reunion Island, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Reunion sounded the alert on Tuesday.
Leptospirosis: the disease “can lead to hospitalization or even death”
Since January 2022, many people have contracted Leptospirosis – a dangerous bacterial disease – the majority of them in recent weeks:
“Since the beginning of the year, 99 cases of leptospirosis have been declared, including 43 in March and 35 cases in April“, writes the ARS in the press release. “Among the 99 cases, 18 people were admitted to the intensive care unit and one person died of the disease“.
Although the disease is mostly mild, it “can lead to kidney failure or even death in 5 to 20% of cases”specifies the Pasteur Institute.
The heavy rains involved
The heavy rains that have hit the island in recent weeks are responsible for the increase in cases.
“The disease is contracted during contact with a humid environment contaminated by the urine of these infected animals.“, explains the ARS, before adding that the recent rains favor “soil leaching and environmental contamination“.
The bacterium enters the body through the skin in case of cuts or wounds.
In this context, the authorities recommend using gloves or boots in the event of activities in a humid environment (puddles of water, stagnant water, rivers, etc.), but also protecting and disinfecting wounds, not walking on your feet naked (or in shoes that are not suitable) in stagnant or muddy water or to fight against rats. It is also advisable “to postpone his leisure activities in fresh water in case of cloudy water”.
In mainland France, nearly 450 people were infected in 2020, according to Public Health France.
Several symptoms make it possible to recognize the infection.
After incubation, from four to ten days, the disease manifests itself in the majority of cases by signs resembling the flu.
“The disease begins with a high fever with chills, headaches, muscle aches and diffuse joint pain. It can also progress to renal, hepatic, meningeal or pulmonary damage.“, indicates the Pasteur Institute.
In 20% of cases, severe forms are accompanied by hemorrhage.
In the most serious cases, acute renal failure may occur, accompanied by neurological damage (convulsions, coma) and more or less significant pulmonary or digestive haemorrhages. More rarely, ocular complications (uveitis, keratitis) may appear in the long term. The majority of infected people do not suffer sequelae.
As for treatments, antibiotics (amoxicillin, cephalosporin and cyclins) are often prescribed. Severe forms require hospitalization.
60,000 deaths per year
In France, leptospirosis has not been notifiable since 1986, but remains under surveillance. There is a vaccine against the type of bacteria most frequently implicated for professionals (sewer workers, veterinarians).
Worldwide, leptospirosis causes more than one million cases per year, including 60,000 deaths.