In January 2024, 24 cases (compared to 6 cases in 2023) of leptospirosis were reported to the ARS La Réunion, including 10 hospitalizations. This disease is contracted through contact with a damp environment contaminated primarily by rat urine (standing water, mud, etc.). Heavy rains promote soil leaching and the survival of leptospira bacteria in the soil. Home gardening or recreational activities in freshwater after heavy rains are therefore particularly risky. Farmers and livestock breeders are also at risk due to their professional activities.

What are some high-risk activities?

• Gardening (yard work, vegetable gardening, tree pruning, etc.).

• Farm work (cutting sugarcane, harvesting leafy greens, pineapples, etc.).

• "La kour" livestock farming / raising poultry at home.

• Freshwater recreation (fishing, swimming in rivers or ponds, canyoning, etc.).

How can you protect yourself from leptospirosis?

Take personal protective measures

• Wear appropriate protective gear (gloves, boots, or closed-toe shoes, goggles, etc.) when gardening, picking up trash, moving bulky items, or raising livestock (“la kour”).

• Do not walk barefoot or in flip-flops when engaging in activities in wet or muddy environments at home or outdoors (muddy ground, puddles, stagnant water, ravines).

• Protect wounds from contact with water (use waterproof bandages), wash them with drinking water, and disinfect them as soon as possible after exposure.

• Farmers and livestock breeders must be vigilant about wearing personal protective equipment. Regular handwashing is recommended.

Controlling Rats

• Maintain your yard regularly (remove clutter or waste that could attract rats…).

• Collect and dispose of waste regularly through appropriate channels to avoid attracting rats.

• Make sure trash cans are securely closed.

• Eliminate all food sources for rodents, including pet food scraps.

• If you keep poultry at home, ensure that their feed is inaccessible to rodents (store feed in airtight containers, remove food scraps, and use fine-mesh fencing to prevent entry into the coop).

Obey swimming bans in areas marked as high-risk

If the water is murky, it is recommended to postpone recreational activities in freshwater.

These preventive measures should be applied especially after periods of heavy rain, as the risk of contact with contaminated wet environments is higher then.

Get vaccinated

A vaccine against leptospirosis is available. It is reserved for certain high-risk occupational groups or individuals who regularly engage in high-risk recreational activities, following an evaluation by a doctor. This vaccination complements preventive measures.

Reminder about leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a serious disease: if not treated in time, it can lead to hospitalization or even death.
The bacteria enter the body through the skin via cuts or wounds (even small ones) or through the mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, nose).

If symptoms appear (sudden onset of high fever (often > 39°C), extreme fatigue, muscle, joint, or abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, severe headaches):

• See your doctor immediately;

• inform them of any high-risk activities you engaged in within the 3 weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.

The doctor may order a laboratory test to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.

Since August 23, 2023, leptospirosis has been a reportable disease. The ARS will then ask the patient to conduct an environmental survey at home to identify potential sources of exposure and high-risk activities.