Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range ...SkipdirectlytositecontentSkipdirectlytopageoptionsSkipdirectlytoA-ZlinkSkipdirectlytoA-ZlinkSkipdirectlytoA-ZlinkLeptospirosisSectionNavigationCDCHomeFacebookTwitterLinkedInSyndicateLeptospirosisMinusRelatedPagesLeptospirosisisabacterialdiseasethataffectshumansandanimals.Itiscausedbybacteriaofthegenus Leptospira.Inhumans,itcancauseawiderangeofsymptoms,someofwhichmaybemistakenforotherdiseases.Someinfectedpersons,however,mayhavenosymptomsatall.Withouttreatment,Leptospirosiscanleadtokidneydamage,meningitis(inflammationofthemembranearoundthebrainandspinalcord),liverfailure,respiratorydistress,andevendeath.Hurricanes,FloodsandLeptospirosisCasesofLeptospirosisCanIncreaseAfterHurricanesorFloodsOutdoorActivityHeadingOutdoors?HelpAvoidInfectionInfectionSignsandSymptomsRiskofExposurePreventioninPetsPreventionTreatmentHealthcareWorkersResourcesRelatedResourcesLaboratorySubmissionsLearnmoreaboutSpecialBacteriologyReferenceLaboratory,andZoonosesandSelectAgentLaboratory.Travelers'HealthandLeptospirosisLeptospirosishasworldwidedistribution,withahigherincidenceintropicalclimates,especiallyafterheavyrainfallorfloodingduetohurricanes.Pagelastreviewed:March13,2019Contentsource:CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalCenterforEmergingandZoonoticInfectiousDiseases(NCEZID),DivisionofHigh-ConsequencePathogensandPathology(DHCPP)homeLeptospirosisInfectionSignsandSymptomsRiskofExposureexpandHurricanes,FloodsandLeptospirosisHuracanes,inundacionesyleptospirosisTreatmentPreventionPetsexpandInfectionSignsandSymptomsTreatmentPreventionHealthcareWorkersResourcesexpandLeptospirosisFactSheetHojadedatosdeLeptospirosisAdventureRacingandLeptospirosisLeptospirosisRiskinOutdoorActivitiesFacebookTwitterLinkedInExitNotification/DisclaimerPolicyCloseLinkswiththisiconindicatethatyouareleavingtheCDCwebsite.TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention