Leptospirosis is the most common work-related infectious disease in New Zealand.
People usually catch leptospirosis from exposure to the urine of infected animals (including farm, domestic, and feral animals) or urine-contaminated soil and water. Infection can occur through cuts in the skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Sickness from leptospirosis usually starts with flu-like symptoms, but if not treated quickly can be severe and result in hospitalisation, long-term illness, or even death.
The people most at risk are those who come into close contact with animals and are exposed to their urine, body fluids, or flesh, especially in wet environments.
See our updated guidance for practical suggestions to manage the risks to protect people from getting sick.
The guidance is for those working in close contact with animals and anyone visiting rural/farming areas.
- Quick guide - Prevention and control of leptospirosis
- One-page info sheet - Leptospirosis: a risk for those working with animals
- Online learning module(external link)
What's new in the updated guidance
Updating our leptospirosis guidance is part of our work to bring our guidance up to date and make it more accessible. Updates to the guidance have been made to reflect the Health and Safety at Work Act, ensure technical accuracy, and use plain language.
We have reformatted the guidance into a single document to make it more user-friendly, so you can read all our guidance about leptospirosis in one place. A new online learning module is also available, and we have developed a printable one-page info sheet with key points for workers.
This document replaces the previous leptospirosis good practice guide and nine fact sheets that were about specific jobs or animal species.
The guidance highlights patterns and issues in the spread, prevalence, and demographics of leptospirosis.
Last year's extreme weather events have sadly seen a rise in reported cases in flood-affected regions, as it can be spread by contaminated water. Heavy rain and flooding have been identified as an increasing risk in the spreading of leptospirosis, and information about this is in the updated guidance.
Thank you to those stakeholders, industry bodies, businesses, and workers who provided feedback on the previous version of the guidance to help us improve it.
