Per CDC:
Key points
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria that affects people and animals.
It's spread in the urine (pee) of infected animals.
Leptospirosis risk often increases after a hurricane or flood when people have contact with contaminated water or soil.
If you or your animals may have leptospirosis, see a healthcare provider.
Exposure risks
The bacteria that cause leptospirosis are spread through the urine (pee) of infected animals. The bacteria can survive in contaminated water or soil for weeks to months. Many different kinds of wild and domestic animals carry the bacteria, including:
Livestock (cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, etc,)
Dogs
Cats
Rodents (rats, mice, etc.)
Marine mammals (sea lions, seals, etc.)
Wild animals (zoo animals, wild pigs, etc.)
When these animals are infected, they may have no symptoms of the disease. Infected animals may continue to urinate the bacteria into the environment for several months or years.
It's rare for people to spread leptospirosis to other people.
People can become infected through:
Contact with water or soil containing urine or body fluids from infected animals, especially after hurricanes, flooding, or heavy rainfall.
Directly touching body fluids from an infected animal.
Eating food or drinking water contaminated by the urine of an infected animal.
If you're involved in activities that put you in contact with water, soil or animals, you may be at increased risk for infection. These activities include:
Water recreation like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, or rafting in rivers, swamps, or creeks
Hiking or hunting
Gardening, yardwork, outdoor cleaning and maintenance
Jobs like working at a veterinary clinic, dairy farming, or butchering
If you are experiencing homelessness or living in a shelter or other facility that has a lot of people living closely together, you may also have a higher risk of getting leptospirosis.
To learn more visits: About Leptospirosis | Leptospirosis | CDC
