The information made the rounds in the Presles district, in Soissons, but some local residents found it hard to believe: a resident died of “rat disease”. A 40-year-old man was bitten on the foot while kicking a rat. He reportedly delayed showing his injury to a doctor. As the newspaper L’union recounts, the local general practitioner who examined him immediately referred him to the emergency room in Soissons. The patient died at the beginning of August at the Amiens University Hospital, where he had been transferred.
This fatal case was confirmed by the Regional Health Agency. Indeed, “leptospirosis has been included in the notifiable diseases. The objective is to better identify cases in order to prevent the risk of an epidemic. In this case, the deceased from Soisson was an isolated patient (with no other cases identified nearby)” indicates the ARS. But what is leptospirosis? We take stock.
How do you get leptospirosis?
Contamination can occur through simple contact with the infected animal, or by bite, as was the case for the Soissonnais. The Ministry of Health notes that “in most cases, transmission is indirect during freshwater swimming, fishing, or boating, kayaking, rafting or canyoning.” Leptospires are found in water “following contaminated animal droppings, entering the body through wounds, skin or mucous membrane erosions, through the conjunctiva, by inhalation of droplets”.
Who are the people most at risk?
As leptospires are found in fresh water, people practicing water sports are “particularly at risk”, notes the Pasteur Institute. Just like farmers, breeders, sewer workers, garbage collectors…
In livestock (cattle, horses, pigs, etc.), infection is even “common” and leads, when it occurs, to “significant economic losses”. These animals then shed leptospires through urine.
How many people infected?
The Pasteur Institute indicates that in mainland France, 600 to 700 people are affected each year. Which is equivalent to one case per 100,000 inhabitants. In overseas communities, this incidence is 50 to 100 times higher.
Is leptospirosis fatal?
Yes, in 5 to 20% of cases, again according to the Pasteur Institute. A mortality which can be favored by the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis, leptospirosis presenting “many clinical forms, ranging from influenza syndrome to multiorgan damage with hemorrhagic syndrome”.
Incubation lasts 6 to 14 days. The patient may experience symptoms as diverse as fever, chills, tachycardia, muscle or joint pain, headaches, rash, etc. As the Ministry of Health specifies, “the diagnosis must be made as soon as possible. quickly possible.” Especially since “biological confirmation is difficult to obtain, and requires successively bacteriological and serological samples”. “The detection of leptospires in the blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid may be impossible at certain periods of the disease,” adds the government in its note on leptospirosis. The disease requires hospital treatment.
How to prevent it?
By wearing protective equipment such as gloves or boots for the professions concerned. It is also recommended to avoid swimming in fresh water if you have sores.
There is also a vaccination (three injections then a booster every two years). This is done on a case-by-case basis, depending on environmental and individual risks. The vaccine only protects in 30% of cases and has frequent side effects, adds the Ministry of Health.
