Vaccination

Leptospirosis

Since this is a low risk disease for most travellers, the vaccination is not recommended. Travellers to rural areas and in contact with water in canals, ponds, streams, swamps, lakes and rivers, mainly after recent flooding, may be at increased risk of infection. The risk is greater for those who practise canoeing, kayaking, swimming or wading in potentially contaminated waters. Outbreaks related with nature-sports activities have been reported.

Leptospirosis, including "Weil disease", occurs worldwide and is more common in tropical countries. The transmission of the infection occurs through contact of the skin and mucous membranes with water, wet soil and vegetation contaminated by the urine of infected animals, namely rats. Infection may also result from direct contact with urine and tissues of infected animals, or from ingestion of food contaminated by the urine of infected rodents.

In some areas the disease is an occupational hazard. Persons exposed to underground sewage and sewage works (e.g. sewerman, dustmen, road workers), field rice and sugar cane workers, pastors, butchers and veterinarians, given the presence of rodents, and laboratory personel, may consider vaccination. However, the vaccine is not commercialy available in many countries.

For prevention, vaccination or prophylactic doxycycline may be used if there is an increased risk of exposure. The vaccination with one dose of the inactivated vaccine should be administered yearly, for five years. The vaccine should not be administered at the same time as other vaccines. Contraindications to vaccination are: altered immunocompetence, acute diseases, renal problems and allergic reactions to a previous dose.

Fernando Costa Silva, 2002 (last update: 2009)