Stark, Astrid

Nohrenberg, Michael

Draper, Anthony

McMahon, Kimberley

Hewitt, Thalia A

Lomas, Kelly

Krause, Vicki

2023-11-16

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic waterborne disease endemic in tropical and subtropical climates. Outbreaks have been observed in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. We briefly described the epidemiology of leptospirosis in the NT between 2012 and 2022, and undertook an investigation of a cluster of three leptospirosis cases observed in crocodile workers between January and December 2022 in the Top End of the NT. A descriptive case series was conducted to investigate the cluster; all three cases were male and non-Aboriginal with a median age of 46.5 years; none took chemoprophylaxis; only one of the three cases reported wearing appropriate protective attire; all reported receiving limited to no education about personal protective measures from their associated workplaces. Higher than average rainfall in both February and December 2022 likely contributed to the increased risk of infection in those months. Changing climate patterns are likely to result in more frequent periods of heavy rain, and risk of contracting leptospirosis in the NT may increase, particularly for those who work in wet and muddy conditions. Promoting the use of protective workplace clothing and equipment, the use of waterproof dressings for skin abrasions, regular hand hygiene, and the consideration of chemoprophylaxis in certain circumstances may prevent future cases.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia. | Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia. | National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Health & Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Centre for Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Top End Health Service, Northern Territory, Australia.

Commun Dis Intell (2018) . 2023 Nov 16:47. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2023.47.70.

2209-6051

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/12551

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

leptospirosis

crocodiles

Leptospira

Northern Territory

rainfall

climate change

A cluster of leptospirosis cases associated with crocodile workers in the Northern Territory, Australia, 2022

Journal Article

Publication