In 2014-2015, the incidence of leptospirosis reached a level identical to that of 1920. The number of cases has doubled in France.
a year ago, le National Reference Center for Leptospirosis (Institut Pasteur, Paris) reported two cases of this zoonotic disease among inmates of Fresnes prison (Val-de-Marne).
The Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) recalls this Tuesday that this information had been widely taken up by the national press, but especially amplified by the debate on the material conditions of detention.
This unprecedented exhibition gave the spotlight to “Rat disease” which owes this nickname to the fact that its main reservoirs are rodents. But since then, leptospirosis has fallen back into oblivion of bacterial pathologies.
A global public health problem
However, it is “unquestionably a public health problem of international importance”, underline the epidemiologists of Public Health France. They estimate that this infection could be the cause of 1 million cases per year, including 60,000 deaths. This is a mortality four times higher than that of dengue. And France is also affected.
As leptospirosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis, the hot and humid climate of some of our departments located in the intertropical zone is particularly favorable to it.
In the overseas departments and communities, the climatic conditions are indeed conducive to the maintenance in the environment of the bacteria responsible for the disease. And the majority of cases occur during the rainy season. As a result, the BEH records an average of 700 cases in the overseas departments. But the risk increases especially in metropolitan France.
Record incidence in metropolitan France
In mainland France, during the years 2014-2015, a doubling of the number of cases was observed compared to previous years, with more than 600 cases.
This incidence (new cases) is “the highest observed since 1920” (1 case per 100,000 inhabitants / year) and is “twice as high as in 2011”, according to the latest bulletin from the health agency.
The disease affects in particular certain exposed professions (farmers, breeders, sewer workers, etc.) as well as outdoor recreation enthusiasts, especially aquatic (fishing, swimming, kayaking, rafting, canyoning). Contamination occurs through contact with fresh water contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
Symptoms similar to those of the flu
This illness bacteria is transmitted by animals, via their urine, in particular rats, but can also be transmitted by wild or domestic animals. In France, leptospirosis is no longer notifiable since 1986, but remains under surveillance. There is a vaccine against the type of bacteria most frequently involved for professionals (sewer workers, veterinarians).
For the latter, it seems important to remember that the disease manifests itself in the majority of cases by symptoms similar to those of the flu. But it can lead in some cases to kidney failure, or even death in 5 to 20% of cases. The more severe forms can also cause bleeding or jaundice.
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