Leptospirosis following a major flood in Central Queensland, Australia

James K G Smith; M M Young; K L Wilson; Scott B Craig

doi:10.1017/S0950268812001021

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Leptospirosis following a major flood in Central Queensland, Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Leptospirosis following a major flood in Central Queensland, Australia

James K G Smith, M M Young, K L Wilson and Scott B Craig

Epidemiology and Infection, Vol.141(3), pp.585-590

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268812001021

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Abstract

community outbreaks

leptospirosis

surveillance

water-borne infections

Throughout December 2010 and January 2011, Queensland experienced widespread flooding due to unusually protracted and heavy rainfalls. In mid-January 2011, four individuals from a small community in Central Queensland were hospitalized with leptospirosis. A further five cases were subsequently identified from around Central Queensland, bringing the total to nine. Microscopic agglutination testing found that serovar Arborea (Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Arborea) was presumptively responsible for leptospirosis in seven of nine confirmed cases. Serovars Hardjo and Australis were identified in samples from two remaining cases. All cases had exposure to flood water. No single exposure source was identified. This is the first reported outbreak of leptospirosis in Central Queensland and the first report of leptospirosis cases associated with flood water inundation in Queensland. Public health authorities should continue to promote awareness of leptospirosis in flood-affected populations. Healthcare providers must maintain a high level of suspicion for leptospirosis during and after flood events.

Details

Title: Leptospirosis following a major flood in Central Queensland, Australia
Authors: James K G Smith (Author) - Queensland Health
M M Young (Author) - Queensland Health
K L Wilson (Author) - Queensland Health
Scott B Craig (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Epidemiology and Infection, Vol.141(3), pp.585-590
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268812001021
ISSN: 0950-2688
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448734102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

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