Leptospirosis

Statutory notification

• Leptospirosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 209KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Leptospira interrogans.
• Transmission:  broken skin and mucous membrane contact with water, wet soil or vegetation that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals, especially rodents, cattle, pigs, horses and dogs.
• Incubation period: 2 to 30 days, usually 10 days.
• Infectious period: Leptospira bacteria can be excreted in the urine of infected individuals for one month, but direct person to person transmission is rare.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Antibiotic treatment as recommended by a doctor.
• Immunisation:  None available.
• Case follow-up: is conducted by Public Health Units.

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• Infectious disease data