Leptospirosis Outbreak In North-east

[george]

Leptospirosis outbreak in Kalasin

KALASIN: -- An outbreak of leptospirosis has been reported in Thailand's northeastern province of Kalasin.

Ten patients have been found suffering from the disease so far, according to the Director of Kamalasai Hospital, Dr. Supat Thartpetch.

"The outbreak of leptospirosis in Kalasin Province is worrying, especially in Kamalasai and Kongchai Districts, where 10 patients have already been reported", Dr. Supat said.

"The disease normally spreads during rice harvests in the rainy season through mud tracks in rice fields. So, people with any leg wounds, even minor ones, should refrain from walking through the rice fields, or wear long boots to prevent themselves from the disease", the doctor suggested.

People who have contract the disease will suffer from a high fever of around 39-40 degrees Celsius with pale, having red eyes, red urine, and wearied leg muscles.

"People who have the symptoms should see the doctor immediately", the doctor warned.

--TNA 2005-06-14

[chuchok]

George, maybe this should also be posted in the Isaan forum as well. lepto is a nasty bugger that can be spread by livestock.Not a nice thing to get.Can be spread by cow bodily fluids...probably buffalo as well.

[sriracha john]

Yes, chuchok, but other animals as well.

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Also, there are some other symptoms to look besides those already mentioned including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

Finally, for treatment, Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms.

Bottom line is to avoid cow piss, dog piss, pig piss, and rat piss. Human piss is ok, but I would still avoid it on principle... however it can't transmit Leptospirosis..

Edited June 14, 2005 by sriracha john

[george]

George, maybe this should also be posted in the Isaan forum as well. lepto is a nasty bugger that can be spread by livestock.Not a nice thing to get.Can be spread by cow bodily fluids...probably buffalo as well.

Good idea, Chuchok

Feel free to post a link in the Isaan forum pointing to this thread!

[chuchok]

Yes, chuchok, but other animals as well.

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Also, there are some other symptoms to look besides those already mentioned including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

Finally, for treatment, Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms.

Bottom line is to avoid cow piss, dog piss, pig piss, and rat piss. Human piss is ok, but I would still avoid it on principle...  however it can't transmit Leptospirosis.. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm still laughing regarding your ref to human piss.

The most important thing of all is the jaundice thing...the liver is badly affected and

will certainly bugger up your ability to have a beer or three.

[TizMe]

If you have pets that you want to protect from Lept. it's a good idea not to leave their food and water bowls out when they aren't around to discourage any infected rodents from passing (sic) on the desease.

[itsme]

An outbreak of leptospirosis has been reported in Thailand's northeastern province of Kalasin.

And Malaria down to the south ....I wonder what's going on in Thailand

[speleo]

Yes, chuchok, but other animals as well.

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Also, there are some other symptoms to look besides those already mentioned including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

Finally, for treatment, Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms.

Bottom line is to avoid cow piss, dog piss, pig piss, and rat piss. Human piss is ok, but I would still avoid it on principle...  however it can't transmit Leptospirosis.. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's not only Isaan farmers who are at risk. In October 2000 a Brit tourist died from leptospirosis/Weil's disease thought to have been caught in a cave in Mae Hong Son. [For reference search under weil's and thailand on http://www.telegraph.co.uk/].

[thaibebop]

If living in Bangkok, how likely is that one can become sick from the different conditions that get reported on ThaiVisa? All the illnesses that I read about sound like a rural problem.

[bina]

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Also, there are some other symptoms to look besides those already mentioned including high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

Finally, for treatment, Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms.

Bottom line is to avoid cow piss, dog piss, pig piss, and rat piss. Human piss is ok, but I would still avoid it on principle... laugh.gif however it can't transmit Leptospirosis.. smile.gif

WAY TO GO SIRACHA

yes, a good zooenoses but many lpeople have had it w/o knowing that they did; especially, yes, us farmer types... mostly though people get it from drinking water from irrigation (not re processes sewage, but regualr ) pipes, and any other drinking faucet type things that have not been in use for a while due to mice crap etc in them: always let a water pipe run for about ten minutes (our safety recommendation to field workers that forget their jerry cans and want a quick shlug aof water) before drinking from it:

BTW, all dogs, ferrets, cats, and i think some livestock (mine dont) get vaccines for lepto....

mostly rodents such as rats etc are the carriers; bats carry something similar (hence the cave disease, one of many)

BTW there is lepto in areas of cities that have intermittant use of water pipes, park water fountains, etc....

yes, rural areas have lots of cool diseases, but cities have theirs too; the one has animal oriented disease, farm accidents , chemical problems etc, the other has city animal problems (pigeons and their related nasties, rats w/their icky things etc), city streets w/muggers etc, and pollution etc.... 6 of one, half a dozen of an other. same same

[Totster]

Worrying...

totster

[speleo]

mostly rodents such as rats etc are the carriers; bats carry something similar (hence the cave disease, one of many)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Drinking beer straight fom the bottle might put you at risk of leptospirosis if rats have run over the crates and p1ssed on the bottle tops. However, this might be an urban myth...

Incidents of leptospirosis from caves have been blamed on rats upstream of the cave. Bats (and birds) transmit histoplasmosis, which is a nasty lung disease, via their sh1t . This disease hasn't been recorded from SE Asia.

[maerim]

Drinking beer straight fom the bottle might put you at risk of leptospirosis if rats have run over the crates and p1ssed on the bottle tops. However, this might be an urban myth...

Unfortunately its not an urban myth but too true.

You might be in with a chance on the foil covered bottles but why risk it?

This nasty piece of work is spread primarily by rodents usually rats thats why tunnelers and sewer workers have to be vacinated against this disease.

[sriracha john]

This nasty piece of work is spread primarily by rodents usually rats thats why tunnelers and sewer workers have to be vacinated against this disease.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but in a throwback to the malaria thread :

From Leptospirosis.Org:

In response to the most common questions asked:

There is no generally-approved human vaccine for leptospirosis

From WHO website:

New efforts to develop a leptospirosis vaccine should be encouraged.

From Leptonet.net:

Use the selection items below and click on the 'SEARCH' button

to find vaccine information.

Type of vaccine:  Human

Country of production:  All Countries 

Manufacturer of vaccine:  All Manufacturers 

Vaccine:  Human vaccine 

Country where vaccine is used:  All Countries 

SEARCH

RESULTS

Vaccination        Country        Manufacturer

Records: 0

[p_brownstone]

Drinking beer straight fom the bottle might put you at risk of leptospirosis if rats have run over the crates and p1ssed on the bottle tops. However, this might be an urban myth...

Unfortunately its not an urban myth but too true.

You might be in with a chance on the foil covered bottles but why risk it?

This nasty piece of work is spread primarily by rodents usually rats thats why tunnelers and sewer workers have to be vacinated against this disease.

Always makes me shudder when I see the pseudo macho chaps in bars scorning a glass and drinking straight from the bottle - they should take a trip to the storage area and see how the crates / boxes are kept.

Patrick

[plachon]

Drinking beer straight fom the bottle might put you at risk of leptospirosis if rats have run over the crates and p1ssed on the bottle tops. However, this might be an urban myth...

Unfortunately its not an urban myth but too true.

You might be in with a chance on the foil covered bottles but why risk it?

This nasty piece of work is spread primarily by rodents usually rats thats why tunnelers and sewer workers have to be vacinated against this disease.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Always makes me shudder when I see the pseudo macho chaps in bars scorning a glass and drinking straight from the bottle - they should take a trip to the storage area and see how the crates / boxes are kept.

Patrick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

glasses are for wusses Paddy!

Whenever I'm in a bar in BKK I always drink straight from the bottle and no ill effects yet (at least from the method of drinking ). But as the beer is mostly like rat's piss anyway, I reckon I've built up a pretty good resistance to this Leptosipirosis bug by now.

(Guinness and Speckled Hen excepted )

Edited June 15, 2005 by plachon