Leptospirosis (Weil's disease)

Leptospirosis, also called Weil's disease, is an infection you can get from animals, soil or water. It's rare in the UK.

How you get leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is spread in the pee of infected animals, most commonly rats, mice, cows, pigs and dogs.

You can get leptospirosis if:

• soil or freshwater (such as water from a river, canal or lake) that contains infected pee gets in your mouth, eyes or a cut, usually during activities like kayaking, outdoor swimming or fishing
• you touch an infected animal's blood or flesh, usually from working with animals or animal parts

It's very rare to get leptospirosis from pets, other people or bites.

Symptoms of leptospirosis

Most people who get leptospirosis have no symptoms, or mild flu-like symptoms. But some people get seriously ill.

Symptoms of leptospirosis may include:

• high temperature
• headache
• body aches and pain
• tummy ache
• feeling sick or being sick
• diarrhoea
• redness in the white part of your eyes
• yellowing of the skin (which may be harder to see on black or brown skin) or white part of the eyes (jaundice)

Treatment from a GP

Leptospirosis can often be treated by your GP. You'll usually be given antibiotic tablets to treat the infection. Most people recover in a few days or weeks.

It's important to finish the course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.

Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve any aches, pains or a high temperature.

If you have severe symptoms, you may need to be treated in hospital.

How to avoid getting leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is rare in the UK. You have a higher chance of getting it if you do outdoor activities like water sports (especially while abroad in tropical areas), or you work with animals or animal parts.

There are things you can do to reduce your chances of getting leptospirosis.